Interpersonal Attachment Research Articles

Interpersonal and pet bonding: A meta-analytic review of attachment dimensions

The present meta-analytic review examined the associations and differences between interpersonal and pet attachment bonds, considering the attachment dimensions of anxiety and avoidance. The work complies with the PRISMA guidelines and was pre-registered on PROSPERO. The literature search was conducted by consulting the PubMed, PsycInfo, PsycArticles, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases, which yielded 12 studies. The meta-analyses showed a moderate positive association for the anxiety dimension ( r = .39) and a weak positive association for the avoidance dimension ( r = .16) between interpersonal and pet attachment. The levels for anxiety and avoidance dimensions in pet attachment were also significantly lower than those in interpersonal attachment ( p-value <.001). The findings suggest that there would be moderate correspondence between the two attachment bonds for the anxiety dimension, whereas avoidance strategies might not be fully transposed to pet attachment bonds. Compared to interpersonal attachment, pet attachment also seems to be characterised by lower levels of attachment insecurity and this could be a useful element to consider in therapeutic contexts.

The link between hoarding symptoms and interpersonal difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic

Hoarding is characterized by difficulties discarding, clutter, and excessive acquiring. Disruptions in interpersonal attachment and associated interpersonal difficulties have been implicated in the development and maintenance of hoarding; however, limited research has investigated the link between interpersonal functioning and hoarding. The current study examined the association between hoarding symptoms and multiple interpersonal factors in young adults during the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants (N = 137) completed an online survey in Spring 2020 which included measures of perceived social support, thwarted belongingness, depression, and hoarding symptoms, including difficulties discarding and acquiring. Participants also completed an ecological momentary assessment protocol where they provided daily ratings of connectedness. At a basic level, both difficulties discarding and acquiring symptoms were correlated with greater thwarted belongingness and lower social support. These associations remained significant even after controlling for depression, with the exception of the relationship between difficulty discarding and thwarted belongingness. Greater acquiring was also associated with greater variability in daily connectedness. This study is the first to demonstrate a unique relationship between hoarding symptoms and multiple interpersonal factors, controlling for depression. Our findings suggest that interpersonal functioning is a potential mechanism underlying hoarding. Clinically, addressing interpersonal difficulties may improve the efficacy of current treatments for hoarding disorder.

How diverse beliefs shape the experience of transcendent gratitude

ABSTRACT As a novel contribution, this study considers transcendent gratitude (e.g. gratitude towards non-human benefactors such as God, Science, or Karma) across diverse belief systems. The sample included 619 participants (M age 37.5, 52.6% female) across the U.S. with beliefs across three distinct categories: a) Theistic; 38.4%), b) Spiritual but not theistic; 26.4%, and c) Non-theistic/Non-spiritual (Other); 35.2%. Across the three belief systems, we tested the associations between gratitude and theistic predictors (e.g. feeling comfort or anger towards God, fidelity, interaction with God, attachment to God, and transcendent indebtedness) and non-theistic predictors (e.g. life comprehension, primal beliefs, prosocial behavioral intentions, and interpersonal attachment). Interestingly, we found that participants from all belief categories experienced transcendent gratitude. Comfort, anger, transcendent indebtedness, life comprehension, and prosocial intentions were robust predictors of transcendent gratitude across belief categories. We conclude with recommendations for more nuanced models of transcendent gratitude.

Deciphering factors that make a narcissistically loved salon brand

PurposeThis research is conducted in the context of beauty salons in India, to investigate how enhanced perceived acceptance in interpersonal relationships through consuming beauty salon services can generate narcissistic brand love among consumers via the mediation of brand happiness. It also investigates the moderating impact of consumer's anxious interpersonal attachment style and cynicism on the relationship between perceived salon brand-interpersonal acceptance goal congruence and salon brand happiness.Design/methodology/approachTo test the hypothesized relationships, a survey was conducted among 225 regular consumers of beauty salon brands. The data were analyzed using Hayes' (2017) process macro in SPSS.FindingsThe results suggest that perceived goal congruence between beauty salon brand-interpersonal acceptance positively influences brand happiness, which in turn predicts consumer's narcissistic brand love. Consumer's anxious interpersonal attachment style positively moderates the effect of brand-interpersonal acceptance goal congruence on brand happiness, while cynicism negatively moderates the path.Originality/valueValue of the study lies in extending interpersonal acceptance and rejection (IPAR) theory to the domain of consumer–salon brand relationship, to posit that if salon brands satisfy consumers' interpersonal acceptance goals, there is a potential for such happy consumers to love the salon brand, albeit narcissistically.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone secretion in response to anticipatory stress and venepuncture: The role of menstrual phase and oral contraceptive use

IntroductionOral contraceptives (OCs) are primarily known for their effects on the reproductive system, but they can also impact the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis. The present study aimed to compare plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) responses to the anticipatory stress of participating in a scientific experiment and venepuncture in OC users versus naturally cycling (NC) women, with a focus on variations throughout the menstrual cycle. MethodsWe recruited 131 young women (average age 20.5) and obtained blood samples to measure plasma ACTH concentrations immediately after venepuncture and again after 15 min of group activities designed to facilitate interpersonal attachment and stress-buffering. ResultsACTH levels decreased in 70% of all participants throughout the group activities. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA highlighted a significant interaction between time and OC use, indicating differential changes in ACTH levels during social interaction between OC users and NC women. Further, the post-hoc analysis revealed that a period of stress-buffering group activities significantly decreased ACTH levels in NC women during menstrual and secretory phases, but not during the proliferative phase. In contrast, OC users did not display a decrease during group activities, regardless of the phase. ConclusionThis study underscores the influence of OC use on stress regulation, demonstrating that OCs not only modulate reproductive functions but also impact ACTH stress reactivity. Additionally, it emphasizes the importance of considering hormonal contraceptive use and menstrual cycle phases when assessing female stress responses.

Interpersonal Attachment Styles and Body Dysmorphic Symptoms in Adolescent Girls: The Mediating Role of Body Image.

Body dysmorphic symptoms are one of the most common problems in adolescent girls. The experience of security or insecurity in childhood attachment can be one of the most important fundamental factors affecting the body image and, consequently, body dysmorphic symptoms. However, the mediator role of the body image in the relationship between body dysmorphic and interpersonal attachment styles has not been studied in previous researches. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating role of body image in the relationship between interpersonal attachment styles and body dysmorphic symptoms. In a cross-sectional research, 250 adolescent girls from Baqer al-Uloom School in Tabriz, were selected by convenient sampling method. Then, The Multidimensional Body-Self Relations Questionnaire-Appearance Scales (MBSRQ-AS), Body Dysmorphic Metacognitive Questionnaire (BDMCQ) and Collins and Reid's Attachment Styles Scale (RAAS) were used to data collection. The findings showed ambivalent attachment style was positively related to body image (β=-0.91, p<0.01) The direct effect of ambivalent attachment style on body dysmorphic symptom is significant (β=0.76, p<0.01). The pathway between body image and body dysmorphic symptom is negatively significant (β= -0.75, p<0.01). Also, the hypothesized model has an acceptable goodness-of-fit. Based on the results, it can be said that in interventions, it is necessary to pay attention to the important role of interpersonal attachment styles and body image in body dysmorphic symptoms.

Smartphone addiction, gender and interpersonal attachment: A cross-sectional analytical survey in Taiwan.

Smartphone use has dramatically increased worldwide, contributing to a profound change in interpersonal interactions. They have become the primary medium of human interaction, and smartphone addiction, consequently, has become a modern-day reality. Recent research on smartphone addiction has provided diverse explanations regarding the correlation between gender and addiction. Therefore, this study aims to analyse the correlation and variance among smartphone addiction, gender and interpersonal attachment. The participants included Taiwanese citizens and the questionnaires were randomly distributed; 1190 valid questionnaires (534 males, 656 females) were collected. Descriptive statistics were computed to observe the average value and standard deviation between interpersonal attachment and gender. Next, Spearman's ρ was conducted to interpret the correlation among smartphone addiction, gender and interpersonal attachment. Finally, the participants were divided into three groups based on their pre-determined level of smartphone addiction: high, moderate and low addictions. The Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed based on interpersonal attachment as the independent variable to determine any statistically significant difference among the three levels. There are four patterns of interpersonal attachment: secure, avoidant, dismissing and anxious attachments. The correlation analysis revealed a significant positive correlation between interpersonal attachment and smartphone addiction (p > 0.000), while revealing no relationship between gender and smartphone addiction or gender and interpersonal attachment. Additionally, the ANOVA indicated the difference was statistically significant in the groups of high and moderate addictions; no statistical significance was identified in the group of low addiction (p < 0.204). This study revealed that there was no correlation between gender and smartphone addiction, but rather, a positive correlation between smartphone addiction and interpersonal attachment. This positive correlation suggests both high and moderate addiction groups display insecurity in their interpersonal attachment. Therefore, to lower the prevalence of unhealthy smartphone addiction, maintaining healthy interpersonal relationships is suggested.

Attachment to Manga (Japanese Comics)

The purpose of this study is twofold. First, it seeks to conceptualize attachment to manga (Japanese comics) by extrapolating attachment theory’s behavioral markers to manga readership. Second, it compares manga attachment markers between avid, moderate, and occasional readers in order to find differences in the strength of the attachment. The study predicted that (a) attachment theory’s common behavioral markers (i.e., proximity maintenance, safe haven, secure base, and separation distress) map onto manga readership and that (b) avid readers display stronger attachment behaviors towards manga than moderate and occasional readers. Participants (N = 279) answered a questionnaire identifying a set of 24 manga attachment markers. Analyses revealed a four-component solution that mirrors attachment theory’s markers, supporting the premise that manga attachment mirrors interpersonal attachment. The results also revealed statistically significant differences in the strength of the attachment behaviors to manga between avid, moderate, and occasional readers among three behavioral markers (i.e., proximity maintenance, safe haven, and separation distress), confirming that avid manga readers maintain proximity with manga, find in manga a safe haven when feeling distressed, and experience separation distress at the real or perceived possibility of the manga not being available. These findings contribute to the increasing literature and understanding on the role of media in individual’s wellbeing.

Attachment and Clinical Outcomes Among Treatment-Seeking Adults With Persistent Symptoms After Mild Traumatic Brain Injury.

Interpersonal attachment influences the development and course of disease. Overreliance on insecure attachment strategies may increase risk for poor disease outcomes. This study aimed to investigate largely unexplored relationships between attachment strategies and clinical outcomes among adults with persistent symptoms after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Participants with persistent symptoms after mTBI (N=83) completed measures assessing dimensions of insecure attachment (Relationship Scales Questionnaire [RSQ]), persistent symptoms (Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire), depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9), anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7), and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) (Quality of Life After Brain Injury-Overall Scale). Questionnaires were administered at clinic intake (mean=18.1 weeks postinjury) and again 3-4 months later (mean=32.2 weeks postinjury), except the RSQ, which was administered only in the follow-up assessment. Treatment response for each outcome was calculated as the difference between scores at clinic intake and follow-up. Generalized linear models were fitted for each clinical outcome, with RSQ variables as predictors. Higher attachment anxiety was associated with greater persistent symptom severity, greater depression and anxiety symptoms, and worse HRQOL at follow-up. Higher attachment anxiety was also associated with less improvement in depression and HRQOL over time. In contrast, attachment avoidance was unrelated to any of the clinical outcomes. Attachment anxiety, the fear that a significant other will not be available in stressful circumstances, may be a particularly important social factor associated with health among adults with persistent symptoms after mTBI. Greater consideration of the attachment system is warranted in mTBI care and research.

The effect of service failure severity on brand forgiveness: the moderating role of interpersonal attachment styles and thinking styles

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to examine the effect of service failure severity on brand forgiveness and to investigate the moderating effects of interpersonal attachment styles and thinking styles on the service failure severity–brand forgiveness relationship.Design/methodology/approachThe authors used retrospective experience sampling to collect the data and structural equation modeling (AMOS 24) to analyze 570 responses collected via an online survey.FindingsThis study shows that the service failure severity–brand forgiveness relationship is not always negative, as different conditions may amplify or weaken it. Specifically, a secure attachment style and holistic thinking weaken the negative impact of service failure severity on brand forgiveness, whereas an anxious attachment style and analytic thinking negatively amplify the relationship. An avoidance attachment style did not appear to play a role.Practical implicationsThis study should help hotels fine-tune their segmentation, targeting and positioning efforts and may also help in implementing more focused recovery strategies.Originality/valueThis study provides insights into the role of psychological traits in amplifying/reducing the negative impact of service failure severity on brand forgiveness, thus showing the importance of developing the psychological profiles of customers beyond demographic profiling. The emotional and cognitive typologies of consumers are key to understanding the dependence of forgiveness on service failure severity.

Decoding Chinese Millennials: The Culture of Singles in the Post-Mao Era

ABSTRACT Though China has long served as a prototypical collectivist culture, the growing number of individual and unattached adult singles is gaining currency in the country. While previous studies of Chinese singles are typically geared toward the country’s so-called “leftover women”, and treat singledom as pejorative or problematic, this study focuses on the emerging demographic of young urban singles and their distinctive social role in reform-era China. Based on semi-structured interviews with 18 singletons from Guangdong Province who are entering the workforce, this study provides an exploratory overview of this new generation of young Chinese singles. The interviews reveal how this emergent single culture is prompting changes in individual autonomy, interpersonal attachment, marriage, gender norms, and family dynamics in contemporary China.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ ЭМОЦИОНАЛЬНО-ЛИЧНОСТНОЙ СФЕРЫ И СИСТЕМЫ МЕЖЛИЧНОСТНЫХ ОТНОШЕНИЙ ЖЕНЩИН С НЕРВНОЙ ОРТОРЕКСИЕЙ

The purpose of the study was to examine the phenomenon of “nervous orthorexia” as a variant of restrictive eating behavior. A review of the literature on the problem showed both a lack of conceptual definition of the term, despite its active use, and a lack of information to distinguish orthorexia nervosa from eating disorders and normative variations in the eatingstyle. The results of an empirical study of the emotional and personality features and characteristics of interpersonal relations system in women with tendencies to orthorexia nervosa are presented. There have been hypotheses about higher rates of "negative affectivity" in women with orthorexia nervosa and specific characteristics in the sphere of interpersonal attachment. According to the results of the study, women with orthorexia nervosa show significantly higher indicators of anxiety and depression, hostility, perfectionism, as well as the predominance of unreliable attachment styles in comparison with women without specific restrictive attitudes towards the diet. The results obtained make it possible to confirm the assumption that orthorexia nervosa should be considered not as a conditionally normative variant of eating behavior, but as one of the forms of emotional and personalitywell-being disturbances.

Investigating the diagnostic specificity of attachment and relational needs in hoarding disorder

BackgroundExcessive emotional attachments to objects in hoarding may represent a compensatory strategy for unmet attachment and relational needs. AimsThis study aimed to clarify the extent and specificity of attachment and interpersonal needs in hoarding disorder compared to obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and healthy controls (HC). The primary aim of the study was to investigate the specificity of poor bonding with key attachment figures in childhood, and attachment insecurity in current relationships. Secondly, present-day interpersonal interactions, including loneliness and social support, were assessed for diagnostic specificity. MethodsA cross-sectional between-groups design was used to compare scores on measures in those with hoarding (n = 38); OCD (n = 46); and HCs (n = 49). ResultsIndividuals with hoarding reported diminished parental bonding, greater attachment insecurity and loneliness in current relationships compared to HCs. The clinical groups did not differ from each other. The hoarding group reported the poorest levels of social support. ConclusionsThese results suggest interpersonal attachment and relational needs are relevant, but not diagnostically specific, to hoarding. Poor social support is particularly heightened in those with hoarding compared to OCD. Longitudinal and interventional research evaluating the impact of interventions addressing social support on object attachment is needed.

IU - A Digital Application for the Graphical Examination of Interpersonal Attachment.

Human attachment describes the establishment of contact between two or more people leading to a closer interpersonal relationship. For measuring attachment, the use of nonverbal assessments tools including art and drawing tasks has been shown to be an alternative to conventional assessment approaches. The present study aims at evaluating the internal criterion validity of a new digital drawing tool for measuring interpersonal attachment. 68 participants took part in this pilot study and were separated in groups of two. After completion of a 10-item subscale of Social Orientation (SO) they were asked to sit opposite to the other and to hold eye contact during a three minute drawing period. Moving the pen to the upper section near the partner stood for thoughts about the other, while moving to the lower section closest to the subject implicated thoughts about oneself. The mean distance of the resulting time series of the two subjects were calculated, using the mean Euclidean distance, and compared with the difference in the SO values via linear regression. Taking all differences together a moderate correlation of r = 0.298 was observed, which however slightly missed the level of significance (p = 0.09). We were able to find small evidence for the criterion validity of IU digital drawing tool. For future studies, other measures of similarity in the time series, i.e. the Manhattan Distance are discussed as an extension to foster the present results.

Spatial routinization and a ‘secure base’ in displacement processes: Understanding place attachment through the security-exploratory cycle and urban ontological security frameworks

Place attachment theory derives many insights from disruptions to place attachment, such as displacement, migration and changing landscapes. Development-induced displacement – a specific involuntary disruption to place attachment - invites a particular examination. This paper examines a lengthy process of development-induce displacement in Bangalore, India and draws new insights on place attachment as a structure and a process. The loss of routine and the sense of time-space continuity, in addition to the severe impoverishment that most displaced people encounter, are unpacked with security-exploratory model from interpersonal attachment theory and with the framework of urban ontological security. We argue that spatial routinization encapsulates the social and spatial attributes of continuity and forms the secure base needed to explore the world. Thus, positive and strong place attachment is established through the process of routinization (i.e., a secure base) that enables physical and mental space for exploration. Our findings strengthen the theoretical links between attachment and place attachment theories. Moreover, this study positions the act of displacement not only as obscuring material and citizenship rights of the displaced but also as depriving basic sense of humaneness.

Development and validation of a new instrument to measure social pain

Social pain is an emotional reaction to social exclusion which has been widely investigated in experimental settings. We developed the Social Pain Questionnaire (SPQ) and examined its factor structure, reliability, and construct validity. We constructed a 46-item pool that covered a broad range of situations related to social pain. Using three different subsamples (Online convenience sample: n = 623, Representative sample: n = 2531, Clinical sample of outpatients seeking psychotherapy: n = 270) we reduced the item pool to 10 items for the final SPQ scale, paying particular attention to content validity and factorial structure. Convergent, divergent and discriminant validity were assessed using standardized measures of related constructs and group differences. For the final 10-item version, a good factorial structure and reliability were found. Convergent validity was supported by correlations with related instruments of interpersonal sensitivity, attachment styles, depression and social anxiety. The representative and clinical sample differed significantly in social pain. The SPQ is an economic self-report measure with solid psychometric properties. Our data support the factorial, construct and convergent validity. The SPQ can be used to clarify the role of social pain in mental disorders and to incorporate interventions targeted towards social pain in psychotherapeutic settings.

Examination of prospective psychological counselors therapeutic alliance skills with their attachment styles and self-regulation skills

This study aimed to examine the relationship between the therapeutic alliance developed by prospective psychological counselors with clients in their psychological counseling practices and their attachment styles and self-regulation skills. The study used a correlational survey model and was carried out on 460 prospective psychological counselors. Data were collected using the Psychological Counseling Form of the Therapeutic Alliance Scale, the Interpersonal Attachment Styles Scale, and the Self-Regulation Dimension of the Emotional Literacy Scale. After the normality analyses, the data collected in the study were analyzed with hierarchical regression. It was found that the attachment styles involved in the regression model in the first stage to predict the therapeutic alliance skills of psychological counselors had a significant contribution to the model (R = 0.42, R2 = 0.21, p<0.01). It was found that avoidant attachment style predicted therapeutic alliance more strongly than other attachment styles but that this predictive effect was negative (β= -0.30, t = 7.50, p<0.01). The self-regulation skill involved in the model in the second stage of the regression analysis had a significant contribution to the model (R = 0.43, R2 = 0.22, p<0.01). In addition, it was found that self- regulation skills positively predicted therapeutic alliance (β = 0.17, t = 3.17, p<0.05). According to the results of the study, it was found that awareness studies about attachment styles and self-regulation in the education of prospective psychological counselors affected their therapeutic alliance skills. Key words: Therapeutic alliance, attachment styles, self-regulation, prospective psychological counselors, hierarchical regression.

Assessing Mobile Phone Attachment: Validation of the Mobile Attachment Questionnaire in Turkish University Students and Examination of Related Variables.

The main aim of this study was to adapt the Mobile Attachment Questionnaire (MAQ) to Turkish culture. It was also aimed to investigate whether mobile phone attachment (MPA) exists in Turkish university students and whether it has the main characteristics of interpersonal attachment. This study also aimed to investigate the MPA's relationship with nomophobia, smartphone addiction and materialism, and to examine the predictive power of them on MPA. The study group consisted of a total of 242 university students. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to determine the structural validity of the MAQ-TR. The goodness of fit indices met the model fit requirements for the four-factor 13-item MAQ-TR. Reliability analyses results provided high internal consistency coefficients. Correlation analyses results showed that individuals highly attached to their phones experienced more severe symptoms of nomophobia and smartphone addiction and materialists were more likely to accept their phones as attachment object. Regression analysis showed that nomophobia, smartphone addiction and materialism were significant predictors of MPA. Given that MPA is an understudied concept, this study provides a starting point for future researches on problematic and non-problematic phone use.

Investigating the impact of partner phubbing on romantic jealousy and relationship satisfaction: The moderating role of attachment anxiety

The ubiquitous and omnipresent smartphone has dramatically altered how people communicate. The present research investigates how partner phubbing (phone snubbing) among romantic partners impacts relationship satisfaction. Study 1 experimentally manipulates partner phubbing and finds it drives romantic jealousy and relationship satisfaction. Study 2 uses an alternative manipulation of partner phubbing and explores the moderating role of interpersonal attachment anxiety in the relationship between partner phubbing, romantic jealousy, and relationship satisfaction. Study 2 finds that partner phubbing and attachment anxiety have an interactive effect on jealousy, which then leads to relationship satisfaction. Study 3 employs a survey and finds that partner phubbing has downstream negative effects on well-being through romantic jealousy, but only among anxiously attached individuals. The heavy use of technology, especially smartphones, in the presence of one’s romantic partner, and the negative outcomes associated with partner phubbing, establishes the importance of research in this area. Directions for future research and study limitations are discussed.

Excessive Object Attachment in Hoarding Disorder: Examining the Role of Interpersonal Functioning

Excessive attachment towards possessions can be maladaptive because it can lead individuals to excessively acquire and save objects. Little is known about how attachment to objects develops and changes over time; however, interpersonal factors have been theorized to play a role. The current study examined whether interpersonal factors, specifically interpersonal attachment style and empathy, moderate changes in object attachment over time. A total of 145 participants with excessive acquiring and discarding difficulties rated their level of attachment to a novel object just after receiving it, and 1 week later. Participants also completed measures of interpersonal anxious attachment and interpersonal functioning. We found that changes in object attachment over time were moderated by interpersonal anxious attachment. Also, our findings suggested that individuals with hoarding problems are likely not impaired in their ability to empathize with others, but rather have difficulty displaying empathy in tense social situations and also have more empathy for fictional characters. Further, greater discomfort in tense social situations and greater empathy for fictional characters interacted to predict greater object attachment. Taken together, these findings indicate that individuals with an interpersonal anxious attachment style may be those at risk of forming greater attachments to objects over time. A learning history that includes inconsistent support from caregivers may result in individuals experiencing more empathy for fictional characters and discomfort in tense social situations, which may produce a vulnerability for becoming excessively attached to objects. Our results are in line with theories of hoarding which propose that individuals use objects to compensate for unmet interpersonal needs and suggest that treatment may need to target interpersonal functioning to reduce hoarding symptoms.