Revised Adult Attachment Scale Research Articles

The Effect of Attachment Dimensions, Perceived Stress and Specific Perfectionism Dimensions on Emotional Overeating and Emotional Undereating

Emotional Eating (EE) encompasses the excessive consumption or deprivation of food as a response to negative emotions, known as emotional overeating (EO) and undereating (EU) respectively. Attachment appears to be associated with EE. Studies suggest that stress and perceived stress levels are linked to Emotional Dysregulation (ED) and EE. Research indicates that the relationship between difficulties in emotion regulation and perfectionism with symptoms of eating disorders (ED) is mediated by emotional eating and cognitive restraint regarding eating. The present study aims to explore whether different levels of attachment dimensions (anxiety, avoidance), perceived stress, and perfectionism (DA & CM) yield distinct categories of EE. The design of the present study is independent measures. Snowballing technique was employed for the facilitation of the study. 227 participants were included (Mage= 29.45, SD= 9.79). The study necessitates the utilization of four self-report instruments, specifically the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), the Frost Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale (FMPS) with a particular focus on its DA and CM subscales, and the Salzburg Emotional Eating Scale (SEES). Factorial Independent Measures ANOVA was facilitated. The only statistically significant result yielded consist of the interaction effect between attachment avoidance levels and perceived stress levels on emotional eating scores. The results regarding the insignificant effect of attachment anxiety levels (high, low), attachment avoidance levels, perceived stress levels and perfectionism levels on EE appear to be contradictory considering previous research. Keywords: Attachment Dimensions, Emotional Eating behaviours, Perfectionism, Perceived Stress

Early maladaptive schema, attachment style, and parenting style in a clinical population with personality disorder and normal individuals: a discriminant analysis model

IntroductionResearchers have shown various variables’ role in forming personality disorders (PD). This study aimed to assess the role of early maladaptive schema (EMS), attachment style (AS), and parenting style (PS) in discriminating between personality disorders and normal individuals.MethodsIn this study, 78 personality disorder patients and 360 healthy volunteers aged 18–84 were selected using convenience sampling. They completed the Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (SQ-SF), Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), and Baumrind’s Parenting Styles Questionnaire (PSI). Data were analyzed using discriminant analysis with IBM SPSS 25.ResultsThe results showed higher mean scores in all early maladaptive schema domains, insecure attachment styles, and authoritarian parenting in the personality disorder group than in the normal group. Also, discriminant analyses revealed that the function was statistically significant and could distinguish between the two groups and a compound of essential variables, disconnection, impaired autonomy, and secure attachment, respectively, discriminating two groups. Given that all components were able to distinguish between the two groups.ConclusionTherefore, intervention based on these factors early in life may help reduce the characteristics of personality disorders. Also, considering the role of these factors, treatment protocols can be prepared.

Exploring the Relationship between Insecure Attachment Styles and Social Anxiety in Undergraduate Students

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the correlation between Avoidant and Anxious Attachment Styles and Social Anxiety, contributing to a deeper understanding of these interconnected factors among undergraduate students.
 Methodology: Convenient Sampling was used to recruit 350 participants aged 18-26 from Forman Christian College (FCCU) in Lahore, Pakistan. The study administered the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (R-AAS) for close relationships and the Social Anxiety Scale (SAS). Data analysis was conducted using SPSS v.20, with Pearson’s Correlation Coefficient, Simple Linear Regression, and Independent Sample t-Test applied.
 Findings: A statistically significant positive correlation was found between Anxious Attachment Style and Social Anxiety. Anxious Attachment Style was revealed to positively predict 19% variance in Social Anxiety with p value <.001. A significant gender difference was found among Social Anxiety and Anxious Attachment Style, but none among Avoidant Attachment Style.
 Implications: Practical implications include tailored clinical interventions and support groups for holistic treatment. Recognizing attachment styles can improve intimate relationships. Gender differences in social anxiety suggest women may need gender-sensitive therapy to address social challenges in education and careers.

The Mediated Role of Early Maladaptive Schemas in the Relationship Between Attachment Styles and Psychopathology in Females Applying for Cosmetic Surgery in Kermanshah

Background: Cosmetic surgery is one of the most common phenomena in recent decades. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders among cosmetic surgery applicants are high, so exploring the procedures and variables affecting their psychological damage is essential. Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the mediated role of early maladaptive schemas in the relationship between attachment styles and psychopathology in females applying for cosmetic surgery. Methods: This descriptive-correlational study was conducted on the 300 females applying for cosmetic surgery in Kermanshah who were selected via simple random sampling. The collected data were analyzed using the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS) (Collins and Read), early maladaptive schemas (Young), and the Scale of psychological disorders symptoms (SCL-90-R) (Derogatis et al.) via SPSS software version 22 and LISREL 8/8. Results: The study’s hypothetical model fitted the experimental data. The relationship between attachment styles and psychopathology, directly and indirectly, was significant (P < 0.05). The analysis results indicated a mediated role of early maladaptive schemas in the relationship between attachment styles and psychopathology (P < 0.05). Conclusions: Attachment styles and early maladaptive schemas can effectively prevent, diagnose, and treat psychological damage and improve the psychological level of females applying for cosmetic surgery.

The Relationship Between Attachment Styles and Emotional Intelligence Among Selected College Students Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic

Recent articles have claimed that the COVID-19 pandemic may have had unfavorable effects on both the emotional intelligence and attachment styles of individuals on a global scale. A number of studies have established a connection between attachment styles and emotional intelligence. This research sought to verify the existence of such a relationship. 106 volunteers from a private college in Manila, Philippines took part as respondents. The Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS) was administered to measure the respondents’ attachment style while the Schutte Self Report Emotional Intelligence Scale was used to measure their emotional intelligence. Based on the findings, it would appear that females possess higher EI scores than males, respondents whose parents are living together possess higher EI scores than those whose parents are separated and respondents with a romantic partner possess higher EI scores than those without. Furthermore, it would seem that females have higher anxiety attachment scores than males, respondents whose parents are living together possess higher anxiety attachment scores than those whose parents are separated and respondents without a romantic partner have higher anxiety attachment scores than those with a romantic partner. In addition, it would appear that males have higher close attachment scores than females, respondents whose parents are living together possess higher close attachment scores than those whose parents are separated, and respondents without a romantic partner have higher close attachment scores than those with a romantic partner. Moreover, it was observed that females have higher depend attachment scores than males, respondents whose parents are living together possess very slightly higher depend attachment scores than those whose parents are separated and respondents with a romantic partner have higher depend attachment scores than those without a romantic partner. A significant moderate positive relationship was found between the respondents’ close attachment scores and their EI scores. Lastly, a significant low positive relationship between the respondents depends attachment scores and their EI scores was also established. Keywords: Attachment Styles, Emotional Intelligence, COVID-19 Pandemic, Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS)

The Influence of Maternal Psychological Manifestations on the Mother-Child Couple during the Early COVID-19 Pandemic in Two Hospitals in Timisoara, Romania.

The postpartum maternal physical and psychological state played a fundamental role in the mother-child relationship at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of the study is to analyze the influence of maternal psychological manifestations on the mother-child couple through three objectives (briefly expressed): (I) Determination of the main acute and chronic conditions of newborns/infants. (II) Verification of the hypothesis of the existence of a link between the following neonatal variables: gestational age, birth weight, number of days of hospitalization, and specific neonatal therapies (oxygen, surfactant, and blood products' transfusion). (III) Verification of the influence of postpartum maternal psychological status on the mother-child couple through three hypotheses. This cross-sectional study was conducted in two hospitals in Timișoara, Romania, between 1 March and 1 September 2020, and included 165 mothers and their 175 newborns. Mothers answered the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, Spielberger's Inventory of State-Trait Anxiety, and the Collins and Read Revised Adult Attachment Scale. (I) The acute and chronic pathology of the infants in the study group was polymorphic. (II) Large correlations were identified between the following infant variables: gestational age with birth weight, and number of hospitalization days with birth weight, gestational age, and use of blood product transfusion (all p < 0.001). (III) (1) State anxiety was the only significant predictor of number of hospitalization days (p = 0.037), number of acute disorders (p = 0.028), and number of infant chronic diseases (p = 0.037). (2) Maternal depressive symptoms were the only predictor of postpartum maternal attachment (p = 0.018). (3) Depressive symptoms, state, and trait anxiety were non-significant in all models studied (all p > 0.05). Postpartum maternal physical and psychological state plays a fundamental role on the mother-child relationship in the new social and complex family conditions.

Relationship Between Secure and Insecure Attachment Style with Physician Empathy Among Medical Students: A Cross-sectional Study in Iran

Background: Physician empathy is one of the fundamental factors involved in patient care and it can enhance the therapeutic effects of patient–clinician relationships. Attachment is defined as the tendency of human beings to make strong affectional bonds with some specific people. Objectives: This study are aimed to examine the possible relationship between secure and insecure attachment style with physician empathy among medical students. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 268 medical students and residents at Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Iran in 2015. All participants voluntarily participated in this study and an informed consent was obtained. Data analysis was done through completing two questionnaires, including the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy-Health Professionals Version (JSPE-HP) and the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS). Data was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and stepwise regression analysis and analyzed in SPSS (v. 18). Results: The highest frequency (n = 137; 51%) was related to individuals in the age range of 21 - 25 years. The empathy score of all students was 99.99. Among 268 participants, 76 (28.4%) and 192 (71.6%) students represented secure and insecure attachment styles, respectively. Married students had higher empathy scores than single students (P = 0.056). No statistically significant difference was found in the mean empathy scores by gender (P = 0.305) and different years of studying (P = 0.883). The mean ± standard deviation of empathy score in psychiatry residents was 113.4 ± 16.24, which was higher than the residents of other fields. Also, our results revealed no significant difference between the empathy scores in individuals with secure and insecure attachment styles (P = 0.945; 95% CI: -3.883 - 3.620). Conclusions: Evaluating empathy in the educational courses of medical students, as future physicians, can offer valuable guidelines to improve the mental health of students and help them have a good relationship with patients.

Attachment and Emotion Regulation: A Cross-Cultural Comparative Study of Iranian and Dutch Gay Men

ABSTRACT Negative beliefs and stigmatization of all that is not heterosexual still have an adverse impact on the mental health of the homosexual population in many countries. The purpose of the present study was to comparatively assess how sociocultural differences regarding the level of homosexuality acceptance impact the adult attachment dimensions and emotion regulation strategies among three groups of Iranian and Dutch gay men. A community sample of 124 gay men (40 of Iranians residing in their home country, 41 of Iranians immigrated to the Netherlands and 43 Dutch) participated in the study and completed Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS) and Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). MANOVA and follow-up post-hoc Tukey tests were conducted in order to analyze the data. Results demonstrated a noticeable difference in both studied variables, attachment dimensions (close, anxiety, and depend) and emotion regulation strategies (cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression), among the three groups of participants. As the Iranian (residing in Iran) group showed the greatest levels of anxiety and emotional suppression with the lowest levels of close (convenience of getting intimate to others), depend (trust and depend on others to be availabale when needed) and cognitive reappraisal (ability to alter the emotion caused by an event, before experiencing it by reinterpreting the situation), while the highest levels of depend, close and cognitive reappraisal and the lowest levels of anxiety and emotional suppression were seen in the Dutch group. Finally, Iranian gay immigrants came half way between. This data highlights the role of cultural differences in terms of homosexuality acceptance or stigmatization, in the way gay men exhibit their attachment and manage their emotions either by reappraisal or suppression. Comparative cross-cultural studies are possibly able to open paths to new research on psychological factors of non-heterosexuals in different countries with various cultures and religions.

Exploring the Relationship between Attachment Styles, Personality Traits and Fear of Missing Out

In the early years of life, attachment is the most dominant aspect of one’s psyche which plays a major role in the development of personality of an individual later in life which in turn influences how different individuals engage in various social interactions with others. In present times, when the world has come closer, a desire to be acknowledged and validated has become crucial to young adults to define themselves which has led to various psychological problems in them. Fear of missing out has emerged as one of the reasons for distress for many. The present study aims to explore the dynamic relationship between attachment styles (closed, dependent and anxious), Big Five personality traits and fear of missing out as its variables. Based on a quantitative research design, a sample of 281 participants between the age group of 18-25 are chosen and three standardised scales; the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), Neuroticism Extraversion Openness Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) and Fear of Missing Out scale are administered through an online questionnaire. Pearson Product Moment correlation method is used for data analysis and additionally the stepwise regression is also employed. Results suggest that extraversion and agreeableness share a significant positive relationship with closed and dependent attachment style. In addition, neuroticism is significantly negative with closed and dependent attachment. Findings also suggests that conscientiousness, extraversion and agreeableness are negatively correlated with anxious attachment style. Additionally, neuroticism is positively significant with anxious attachment. Moreover, agreeableness and conscientiousness are found to have a significant negative correlation with fear of missing out, whereas, neuroticism is significantly positive. In addition, fear of missing out is found to be positively related with anxious attachment style. Furthermore, the step-wise multiple regression indicates that agreeableness is the most dominant trait in dependent attachment style, extraversion being the highest predictor of closed attachment style and neuroticism being the most dominant trait in anxious attachment style. Additionally, neuroticism and anxious attachment style make the highest contribution to fear of missing out.

On the Causal Relationship Between Attachment Styles and Marital Satisfaction: Mediating Role of Gottman's Marital Communication Model

Background: Marital satisfaction is one of the main factors affecting the quality of life in marital relationships. It refers to individuals’ positive attitudes toward their marital relationship, and marital dissatisfaction is a negative and displeased attitude toward various aspects of marital relationship. Objectives: The present study aimed to explore the causal relationship between attachment styles and marital satisfaction regarding the mediating role of Gottman’s marital communication model. Methods: The statistical population encompassed all university students in Ahvaz in the academic year 2019 - 2020. The multi-stage random sampling method was used, and 230 persons were selected as the study samples. Hudson's Index of Marital Satisfaction (IMS), Coolins and Reed's Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), and Gottman's Communication Skills Scale (FHS) were also used to collect the data. Data analysis was performed using SPSS software version 26 and AMOS software version 24. Results: The results indicated that the study model well-fitted the study population, and all direct paths were statistically significant. Moreover, there was a significant relationship between secure attachment, anxiety-insecure attachment, and avoidance-insecure attachment with marital satisfaction mediated by Gottman's communication skills (P ≤ 0.001). Conclusions: Given the effect of Gottman’s couple attachment styles and four communication skills on marital satisfaction, their effectiveness in marital satisfaction is proved. Accordingly, therapists are recommended to implement educational and treatment programs containing cognitive and preventive attachment styles and Gottman’s communication skills to promote couples' marital satisfaction.

Child abuse and non-suicidal self-injury among Chinese university students: the role of emotion dysregulation and attachment style

Although non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is a worldwide public health concern, the prevalence rate and risk factors for it among Chinese university students are not known. The present study aimed to address these knowledge gaps and examine the interrelationship between child abuse and NSSI frequency and functions as well as psychiatric co-morbidity with emotion dysregulation as a mediator and attachment style as a moderator. Five hundred and thirty-six (F = 359, M = 177) Chinese university students were recruited from two universities in Hong Kong and completed the Functional Assessment of Self-Mutilation, Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, Revised Adult Attachment Scale, Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale and General Health Questionnaire–28. The findings showed that the prevalent rate of NSSI was 22% in the past year. The results showed that child abuse was significantly correlated with psychiatric co-morbidity and emotion dysregulation, and the latter was also significantly correlated with positive and negative reinforcement, and psychiatric co-morbidity. Moderation effects were not established. Non-suicidal self-injurious behaviour was relatively common among Chinese university students in Hong Kong. Their difficulties in regulating their emotions may influence why they hurt themselves and the severity of psychological distress, especially for those who experienced a high level of child abuse in the past.

Intergenerational Teaching-learning through Meditation and Smartphone Use Skill-knowledge Transfer between South Asian Grandparent-grandchild Dyads

ABSTRACT This article reports the impact of an intergenerational teaching-learning program (ITLP) of meditation and smartphone use on promoting social engagements for grandparents and attachment security for their young adult grandchildren. Grandparent-grandchildren dyads from two South Asian cities were randomized into intervention (IN1 = 86; IN2 = 78) and control groups (CN1 = 86; CN2 = 72). Grandparents’ scores on Lubben Social Network Scale-6 (LSNS-6) and grandchildren’s scores on Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS) were assessed at pretest (TI) and posttest (T2). Intervention group grandparents had higher social engagements and grandchildren had lower attachment insecurities compared to the control dyad at T2. ITLP impact was moderately high (Cohen’s d range = 0.49–0.56, p≤.01) and T2 performance was better for grandmother-grandchild dyads, middle class, widowed grandparents and cohabiting dyads. ITLP attendance and home practice mediated the relationship between participant characteristics and outcomes. Actor-partner independence models indicated that attendance and home practice were interdependent and posttest increase in grandparents’ social network was positively associated with grandchildren’s attachment security at T2. The ITLP is a practical and useful program for intergenerational learning.

The Effectiveness of Group Therapy Based on Mentalization and Dialectical Behavior on Attachment Styles, Social Cognition, Mentalization: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

Background: Mentalization-based treatment (MBT) and dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT) are two treatments with a strong theoretical basis for borderline personality disorder (BPD). Objectives: We investigated the structures that influence the process of symptom recovery from the perspective of mentalization-based treatment. Methods: This is a single-blind randomized controlled clinical trial conducted on 60 patients diagnosed with BPD. Data were collected from March 2017 to June 2017 by a psychiatrist in a semi-structured clinical interview. The participants were categorized into intervention and control groups. Before, immediately and two months after the group therapy based on MBT and DBT, the participants were assessed with Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), Reflective Function Questionnaire for Adult (RFQA), Eye Test-Test Revised Version, Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II). Results: Both of the treatments were effective in improving avoidant (P = 0.0001) and ambivalent (P = 0.0001) attachment styles, mentalization (P = 0.0001), and social cognition (P = 0.0001). These changes persisted from post-test to follow-up in mentalization (P = 0.003) and social cognition (P = 0.02). Conclusions: Although both methods are effective in improving the symptoms of the disorder, MBT is more effective in improving the basic structures of the BPD. This may lead to greater stability in the treatment.

Does attachment style predict quality of life in youth? A cross-sectional study in Iran.

The attachment can be considered as a specific behavioral pattern that is critical to healthy growth in most communities. Medical students are exposed to high levels of psychological stress while being equipped with lower levels of resilience. This study aims to determine the relationship between attachment style and the quality of life of medical students. In this cross-sectional correlational study, 150 students of Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences in 2018 were selected based on convenience sampling with consideration of inclusion criteria. Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS) and Quality of life questionnaire (SF- 36) were used as data gathering scale. The data were analyzed with SPSS ver.19 using the Pearson correlation coefficient and linear regression. The participants’ mean quality of life score was 74.2 ± 16.7. In attachment style, 48.7% of the participants had secure attachment, 26.0% avoidant attachment, and 25.0% ambivalent attachment. The results of this study indicated a significant direct correlation between the quality of life scores and secure attachment style (p value <0.000). Also, there was a significant inverse correlation between the quality of life score and ambivalent attachment style (p value <0.000). Attachment style predicted students’ quality of life. Moreover, the role of Attachment style highlighted potential areas for intervention to improve medical student well-being and provide a foundation for longitudinal follow-up.

Association Between Cognitive Function and Early Life Experiences in Patients with Alcohol Use Disorder.

IntroductionEarly life experiences could be potential risk factors for the development of alcohol use disorder. In similar circumstances, it might also influence cognitive impairment in later life. However, the relationship between early life experience and cognitive function in people with alcohol use disorders is unclear. The current study examined the effects of early social environments and experiences on cognitive function in patients with alcohol use disorder.MethodsA total of 37 adult male patients with alcohol use disorder and 30 healthy control (HC) subjects were enrolled. The MATRICS Cognitive Consensus Battery (MCCB) was used to evaluate cognitive function. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) and the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS) were used to evaluate early life experiences of the participants. The RAAS was used to evaluate the attachment patterns of participants.ResultsCompared with the HC group, the alcohol use disorder group reported higher levels of childhood abuse and were more likely to form an insecure attachment style. Patients with alcohol use disorder who experienced trauma performed worse in terms of discrete cognitive parameters such as social cognition, reasoning and problem solving compared to patients without trauma. Importantly, emotional neglect and social comfort were significantly associated with individual social cognitive skills.ConclusionsOur results suggest that the cognitive function of patients with alcohol use disorder, especially social cognitive function, is affected by early life experiences.

The Mediation Model of Actual Ought Self Discrepancy between Attachment Anxiety and Codependence

Abstract: In this study, it was aimed to investigate the mediating role of actual-ought self-discrepancy between attachment anxiety and codependence among a group of international university students in Turkey who are fluent in English. Considering the high intensity of agitation-related emotions in individuals with codependence, it is hypothesized that discrepancies between actual and ought to self-states scores are mediating the relationship between preoccupied-anxious attachment style and codependence scores. Data were collected between March and May 2016 from 67 (34 females, 33 males) university students with at least one dysfunctional significant other. They were recruited via e-mails and web-based online survey applications. The age range of the participants is between 18 and 25 (M=21, SD=2.074). In addition to a short socio-demographic information form, three self-report instruments were administered to participants: The Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), the Self Concept Questionnaire – Conventional Constructs (SCQ-CC), and the Codependent Questionnaire (CdQ). Regression and mediation analyses were utilized, and it was found that actual-ought self-discrepancies scores to mediate the relationship between preoccupied-anxious attachment and codependence scores. The results of the study are expected to have important implications for clinical interventions and prevention programs in addressing the attachment insecurities and emotion regulation difficulties of the individuals with codependence.

Collins and Read Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS) validity evidences

This study aimed to find validity evidence of different versions of the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS) that measures adult attachment style and have been translated into Portuguese, in order to obtain a final version of the instrument for application in a Brazilian sample. We used the original version of the RAAS and its recent variations. Four independent studies were held, with a total of 1436 participants, mostly young adults from the states of São Paulo and Bahia. Exploratory and confirmatory analyses corroborated the validity of the three-factor structure (secure, anxious and avoidant) from the scale, with satisfactory indexes for Brazilian data. We found differences in frequency of attachment styles between sexes, confirming evolutionary hypotheses of intersexual variation. The scales showed satisfactory evidence of validity, and it is advised to use its latest version to measure adult attachment.

Role of Early Traumatic Life Events, Insecure Attachment Style and Callous-Unemotional Traits in Predicting Aggressionin High School Students

Background: Worldwide, aggression is one of the main death causes for people between the ages of 15 to 44. Understanding the risk factors may be critical to accurate aggression and treatment.Objectives: This study aimed to examine the relation between early traumatic events, callous-unemotional traits and insecure attachment style with aggression in a sample of adolescent out-patient.Methods: Asample of high school students (n=345) with a mean age of 16.62 (SD=0.81) years completed Boss and Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ), Early Trauma Inventory (ETI), Inventory of Callous-Unemotional (ICU) traits and revised adult attachment scale (RAAS). The obtained data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and multivariate regression analysis. Results: Regression analysis revealed that 13% variance of aggression can be predicted by early traumatic events, insecure style of attachment and callous-unemotional traits.Conclusion: Our findings provide further insight into the role of particularpsychopathy traits, trauma and attachment in developing and maintaining aggression. Study implications and limitations are considered.

Relationship Between Attachment Style in Adulthood, Alexithymia, and Dissociation in Alcohol Use Disorder Inpatients. Mediational Model.

Background: Attachment theory is a widely used framework for understanding emotion regulation as well as alexithymia, and dissociation and this perspective has also been applied to understand alcohol use disorders. Apart from these theoretical suggestions, there has been scarce empirical research on this subject-matter. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to investigate potential associations between attachment style in adulthood, alexithymia, and dissociation in alcohol use disorder inpatients.Methods: The Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), the Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), the Michigan Alcoholism Screening Test (MAST), and the Curious Experiences Survey (CES) were administered to a sample of 97 alcohol use disorder inpatients recruited from drug and alcohol treatment centers in Warsaw, and 104 persons in control groups, Poland.Results: A comparative analysis between the group of alcohol addicts and non-addicts showed statistically significant differences related to: alexithymia, dissociation, and attachment styles. The analysis of models related to the impact of attachment styles on the level of alcohol addiction with regard to a mediatory role of alexithymia and dissociation showed that all models are well fitted to data and statistically significant: intimacy F(3.197) = 34.41; p < 0.001 and explains 34% (R2 = 0.3438); depend F(3.197) = 36.55; p < 0.001, and explains 36% (R2 = 0.3576); anxiety F(3.197) = 34.71; p < 0.001, and explains 35% (R2 = 0.3458) of the variability of alcohol addiction scores. Mediation analysis found that alexithymia and dissociation enhance the fear of intimacy and rejection in a romantic relationship.Conclusion: These findings support the broad attachment theory suggesting that attachment is associated with and predicts alexithymia and dissociation in the sample of substance use disorder inpatients. Alexithymia and dissociation, by inhibiting the processes of emotions’ identification and verbalization, cause that language does not serve for the purpose of changing self or others, as the communication is distorted. Absent are common meanings and accurate mutual understanding in a relationship.

Mediating Effect of Adult Attachment on Eating Psychopathology and Depression in Patients with Eating Disorders

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effect of adult attachment in the relationship between eating psychopathology and depression among patients with eating disorders. Methods: Patients (N=146) who visited a clinic for eating disorders participated in the study. Data were collected from December 2017 to February 2018 using the Eating Disorder Inventory (EDI-2), Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II). Results: The subjects showed high scores on eating psychopathology (drive for thinness 15.02±5.11, bulimia 11.77±5.27, and body dissatisfaction 14.16±7.82), adult attachment (attachment avoidance 37.31±6.18 and attachment anxiety 16.63±5.38), and depression (24.26±10.81), and 65.1% of the participants showed above a moderate level of depression. There were significant correlations among eating psychopathology, adult attachment, and depression. We also found that adult attachment fully mediated the association between eating psychopathology and depression. Conclusion: Future interventions for patients with eating disorders who have experienced insecure attachment with their primary caregiver should focus on forming a therapeutic relationship with the therapist. In addition, family therapy might contribute to lowering attachment insecurities and depression by recovering the attachment between the patients and their parents.