Secure Attachment Style Research Articles

The relationship between intimate partner violence and parenting styles with mediated attachment styles in Iranian women

PurposeThe primary aim of this study was to investigate the role of attachment styles as intermediaries in the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and parenting styles among Iranian women.MethodsData for this study was collected between September and December 2020. The participants consisted of 102 women who had been referred to Social Emergency Centers in Isfahan due to their experiences with domestic violence. Participants filled out the Haj-Yahia Violence Questionnaire, Baumrind Parenting Styles Questionnaire (BPSQ), and the Attachment Styles Questionnaire (AAQ). To examine the hypothesized relationships, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used.ResultsEconomic IPV victimization was negatively related to secure attachment (β = − 0.309, p = 0.019) and positively related with authoritative parenting (β = 0.422, p = 0.019) and avoidant attachment style (β = 0.563, p = 0.000). There was a significant, positive relationship between sexual IPV victimization with secure and avoidant attachment styles (β = 0.351, p = 0.011; β = 0.407, p = 0.000). Authoritative parenting style was related to avoidant attachment (β = − 0.524, p = 0.015) and secure attachment (β = 0.371, p = 0.000).ConclusionsIranian IPV victims with secure attachment style were more likely to utilize authoritative parenting and those who have avoidant attachment were less likely to use authoritative parenting. Attachment styles may influence the relationship between IPV and parenting styles in Iranian women who have experienced IPV.

The Role of Attachment Styles in Marital Stability: A Psychological Approach to Strengthening Relationships

Purpose: The present study attempts to establish how attaching styles influence marital stability. To help determine how the various attachment patterns or styles-secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized-influence communication quality, conflict resolution, and overall marital satisfaction. Provide an understanding of how attachment styles, which are developed during one's childhood years, impinge on adult-to-adult relationships, particularly in marriage. Understand the rise in divorce rates and marital problems based on exploration of attachment styles that strengthen or weaken the marital bond. Add to the increasing scientific knowledge repository by focusing on real-life marital outcomes related to psychological theories of attachment. Material and Methods: The research design for this study is a mixed-methods design, which includes the following; Quantitative Component: Standardized questionnaires related to attachment style and relationship satisfaction scales will be administered to 200 couples. Qualitative Component: 20 couples from each category of different attachment styles will be interviewed in depth. This will be done at the marriage counseling centers in Houston, Texas. Population: Married individuals from different age brackets and years of marriage. Sampling: Stratified random sampling to ensure that there is a fair representation of marital backgrounds. Statistical Analysis: Application of correlation and regression analysis will help identify if attachment styles significantly predict marital outcomes. Findings: The key results of the study are that secure Attachment: Couples with at least one partner showing a secure attachment style exhibit: Improved communication, Successful conflict resolution, Overall relationship satisfaction, Insecure Attachment Styles, Anxious and avoidant are attached to less satisfaction and more conflict in marriage. Implications to Theory, Practice and Policy: Based on this research, our recommendations in the present study are as follows: The need for Attachment-Based Interventions and Relationship Education Programs.

Relationship Between Types Of Parental Attachment, Levels Of Self-Esteem, And Perceived Academic Performance Among Students In Mixed-Day Secondary Schools In Masinga Sub-County In Machakos County, Kenya

This study investigated the relationship between types of parental attachment, levels of self-esteem and academic performance among students in Mixed-day secondary schools in Masinga Sub- County, Machakos County, Kenya. The objectives included assessing types of parental attachment, examining self-esteem levels, assessing levels of academic performance, and establishing the relationship between these variables. Materials and Methods: The study was informed by Maslow’s theory of need and Bowlby’s attachment theory and adopted correlational research design. The target population comprised 4,796 students, with a sample size of 356 participants selected through simple random sampling. Parental Attachment Questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale, and Demographic Questionnaires were used to collect data. Statistical Packages for the Social Sciences (SPSS version 25) software, descriptive statistics (frequencies and percentages) and inferential statistics (Pearson’s product-moment correlation analysis) were used to analyze data. Results: The study found that most (53.3%, n = 213) of the participants scored anxious parental attachment, 25.4% (n = 121) were at avoidance parental attachment, and 21.3% (n = 105) had secure parental attachment. It was also found that 70.5% (n = 281) of the participants scored low self-esteem, 6.7% (n = 27) were at high self-esteem and 43.6% (n = 174) were average in academic performance, 42.9% (n = 171) had low academic performance, while 13.5% (n = 54) had a high academic performance. Conclusion: The study established a negative but significant relationship (r = -.852, p =.000) between avoidance parental attachment and self-esteem. There was a moderate significant relationship (r = -.313, p =.000 ≤ 0.05) between anxious parental attachment and self-esteem. There was a high positive significant relationship (r = .766, p =.000 ≤ 0.05) between secure parental attachment and self-esteem. There was a strong positive significant relationship (r = .630, p = .003, ≤ 0.05) between secure attachment style and perceived academic performance. The study recommended that parents should listen to their children and be fully present in their lives. The parents should be made aware of the crucial stage of development of their adolescents and fully collaborate with teachers in school activities whenever they are called upon

Parenting Styles, Attachment and Emotional Support as Determinants of Adjustment to College Life among Fresh Undergraduates

Abstract: The study examined the relationship of parenting styles, attachment and emotional support with adjustment to college life among fresh undergraduates. The study employed a correlational design as a guide. Three hundred fresh undergraduates of the Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria -123 males; 177 females, who were selected through Stratified random sampling approach participated in the study. The Student Adaptation to College Questionnaire (SACQ; α= .93); Parental Authority Questionnaire (PAQ; α= .92); Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ; α= .88); and Perceived Emotional Support Scale (PES; α= .89) were the instrument used for data collection. The data generated were statistically analysed with the aid of Pearson Product Moment Correlation and Multiple Regression Model. The statistical results showed that the three predictor variables jointly accounted for a total of 60% of the overall variance in adjustment to college life. Based on the contribution of each of the predictor variables, Authoritarianism and Permissiveness parenting styles, negatively and significantly predicted adjustment to college life. However, attachment styles, Authoritative parenting style and emotional support significantly and directly predicted adjustment to college life. Seeing the investigated variables had significant effect on college adjustment, it was recommended that university authorities and policy makers should design a program that will lessen the impact of negative parenting and improve secure attachment styles and emotional support among fresh undergraduates.

The Relationship Between Attachment Styles and Marital Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Positive Relational Behaviors

This study aimed to investigate the association between individuals’ attachment styles and their marital satisfaction through positive relational behaviors (PRBs). This was a correlational study of structural equation modeling (SEM). Out of all married students of Bu-Ali Sina University. A total of 261 (69 men and 192 women) filled out our questionnaires. The results from SEM indicated that the hypothesized model in this study had a good fit with the study sample. The secure attachment style demonstrated a significant positive relationship with marital satisfaction through PRBs, while the ambivalent and avoidant attachment styles exhibited a negative association with marital satisfaction through PRBs.

Exploring links between attachment and mental health

Attachment theory provides numerous implications for mental health and individual functioning throughout the lifespan. Attachment styles, formed based on early interactions with a caregiver, play a crucial role in emotional regulation, relational satisfaction, and psychological well-being. Childhood experiences become the foundation for the development of internal models of self, the world, and others, influencing attachment patterns in adulthood. These patterns are significant for later relationships, especially romantic ones, mental health, and the development of psychopathology. If the primary caregiver responds consistently, supports, and comforts the child, the child will be inclined to cooperate, seek closeness, and feel loved and safe. Such a child will develop a secure attachment, viewing the caregiver as a secure base and a refuge from the unpredictable world. Individuals who formed a secure attachment style in childhood tend to create stable and mature relationships, exhibit greater psychological resilience, and are less likely to struggle with mental health issues. Conversely, if the caregiver is unresponsive or lacks sensitivity, the child may develop an insecure attachment style, characterized by heightened anxiety or avoidance. Attachment-related anxiety is associated with a persistent state of heightened vigilance, as individuals remain on alert, anticipating potential separation from their parents. Avoidant attachment is marked by a tendency to maintain emotional distance, reluctance to rely on others, and a lack of seeking comfort and support from caregivers. An insecure attachment style negatively impacts romantic relationships. Moreover, individuals characterized by attachment anxiety or avoidance are more prone to mental health disorders. Attachment theory provides a crucial framework for understanding the complex links between early relational experiences and mental health. Poor relationship quality, complex PTSD, depression, personality disorders—particularly antisocial and borderline—have their roots in early maladaptive relationships between the child and caregiver and may be related to interpersonal trauma. Secure attachment acts as a protective factor against psychopathologies, promoting emotional stability and healthy social functioning.

Comparison of State-Trait Anxiety and Fear of Childbirth According to Attachment Styles of Pregnant Women.

Fear of childbirth (FoC) and its extreme form, tokophobia, is a clinical condition that can lead to many negative consequences, and its importance is increasingly understood. This article aims to assess the severity of FoC and anxiety levels according to different attachment styles and to investigate the relationships between these factors. A cross-sectional study was conducted in a state hospital in the largest city in Turkey. Three hundred pregnant women attending the Antenatal Outpatient Clinic were included. A sociodemographic questionnaire, Wijma Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire-version-A (W-DEQ), Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory and Adult Attachment Style Scale were administered. 8.1% of participants had tokophobia (W-DEQ sum score ≥85). FoC was significantly higher in pregnant women who had a history of pregnancy loss and past psychiatric history. For multiparous women, adverse birth outcomes were also associated with higher FoC. State and trait anxiety were positively correlated with FoC levels. Regarding the attachment patterns, pregnant women with avoidant attachment styles presented with higher levels of FoC than those with secure attachment styles. In logistic regression analysis, higher anxiety levels, adverse birth outcomes, and insecure attachment styles were found to predict severe and clinical FoC. FoC has a considerable effect on pregnant women, albeit at different clinical levels. Adverse birth outcomes, high anxiety levels, and insecure attachment styles were associated with higher FoC. Therefore, antenatal patients with adverse birth outcomes and higher anxiety levels, which are risk factors for FoC, should be carefully evaluated in terms of tokophobia and referred to mental health professionals when necessary.

Mediating role of self-compassion in relationship between attachment styles and empathy in nurses

IntroductionEmpathy with the patient is one of the important factors in nursing care. This study aims to investigate the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between attachment styles and empathy in nurses.Materials and methodsThis correlational study was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM) method. The statistical population included nurses working at public hospitals in Yazd City, Iran. A total of 308 nurses were selected by convenience sampling method. The data were collected using self-compassion scale, adult attachment styles scale, Jefferson scale of empathy and analyzed using structural equation analysis in AMOS software.ResultsSecure and anxious/ambivalent insecure attachment styles were positively and negatively correlated with empathy, respectively (p < .01). The path coefficient between avoidant and anxious/ambivalent insecure attachment styles and self-compassion was negative. On the contrary, the path coefficient between secure attachment style and self-compassion was positive. There was a positive correlation between self-compassion and empathy. The indirect path coefficient of secure and anxious/ambivalent insecure attachment styles to empathy through self-compassion. was significant (p < .01).ConclusionThe results showed secure and anxious/ambivalent insecure attachment could directly and indirectly through influencing self-compassion predict empathy in nurses.

Neural correlates of distress and comfort in individuals with avoidant, anxious and secure attachment style: an fMRI study

ABSTRACT Despite a growing literature, experiments directly related to attachment are still needed. We explored brain processes involved in two aspects of attachment, distress and comfort. Seventy-eight healthy adult males with different attachment styles (secure, avoidant, and anxious) viewed distress, comfort, complicity-joy and neutral images (picture database BAPS-Adult) in an fMRI block design. ROIs from the modules described in the functional Neuro-Anatomical Model of Attachment (Long et al. 2020) were studied. Secure participants used more co- and self-regulation strategies and exhibited a higher activation of the reward network in distress and comfort viewing, than insecure participants. Avoidant participants showed the lower brain activations. Their approach and reward modules were the least activated in distress and comfort. Anxious participants presented both higher activations of the approach and aversion modules during complicity-joy. In addition, comfort and complicity-joy were processed differently according to attachment styles and should be differentiated among positive stimuli to disentangle attachment processes.

Can Glamping be a Vacation to Help Dink Couples Relax and Maintain Close Relationships?

Glamping brings a glamorous tourism experience providing potential opportunities to escape from daily routines and maintain relationships during difficult/special times, such as the pandemic with travel restrictions or postpandemic travel concerns. It is innovative to explore the unique group of DINK (dual income, no kids) couples using glamping as context. This study examines the variations in closeness among DINK couples based on four individual attachment styles (i.e., secure, anxious, dismissive, fearful), and explores the relationships between closeness and subjective well-being. A pilot test with 118 valid responses was adopted to ensure the validity of items and feasibility of the study design. Utilizing attachment theory with four attachment styles, the main study analyzed 940 valid responses using confirmatory factory analysis, ANOVA, and multigroup path analysis. This study highlights that people with a secure attachment style have a significantly 1) higher level of closeness with their partner and 2) stronger relationship between closeness and subjective well-being compared to the other three attachment styles (i.e., anxious, dismissive, and fearful). The results suggest that glamping providers could improve glamping environments to be peaceful and comfortable to attract potential glampers who have higher anxiety (i.e., anxious and fearful attachment styles). Further, the results indicate that glamping could serve as a setting for couples??? therapy and to celebrate special events to enhance close relationships. These promoting/marketing strategies can benefit small glamping businesses develop their products and potentially draw different types of visitors.

Beyond the symptoms: Exploring attachment styles and reality-testing among schizophrenia clients from a nursing perspective.

INTRODUCTION: Insecure attachment styles are associated with mental health problems and may influence reality perception. This study investigated the link between attachment styles and reality-testing impairment in individuals with schizophrenia. A cross-sectional survey with 200 participants diagnosed with schizophrenia assessed their attachment styles (Psychosis Attachment Measure) and reality-testing abilities (Bell Reality Testing Inventory). A significant positive correlation emerged between insecure attachment and poorer reality testing (r = .394, p < .001). Avoidant attachment was most prevalent (mean scores: 17.01, SD = 3.71), followed by anxious attachment (16.53, SD = 4.20). Reality-testing impairment manifested across all three domains: uncertainty of perception (7.16, SD = 2.45), reality distortion (3.52, SD = 1.21), and hallucinations/delusions (26.63, SD = 5.83). Interestingly, specific demographics (male, unmarried, 40-50 years old) and those with a duration of illness of less than 5 years had higher mean scores (27.35, SD = 5.61). Insecure attachment styles, notably anxious and avoidant, are dominant among clients with schizophrenia, who also struggle with reality distortion, perceptual uncertainty, and hallucinations/delusions in all three domains. Healthcare providers and nurses should understand the psychological dynamics of clients with insecure attachment styles to establish effective therapeutic relationships. A secure, structured, and consistent environment is vital to modifying insecure attachment styles and promoting reality orientation. Secure Attachment Style Oriented Psycho-Educational Program, Mentalization, Cognitive Interpersonal Therapy, and Cognitive Analytic Therapy can help reduce reality-testing impairment. Fostering Maternal and Child Health (MCH) centers on empathizing secure bonds between mothers (and mothers-to-be) and their children to promote healthy attachment styles as a preventive measure.

Examining the impact of emotional intelligence and attachment style on loneliness Alisha Azad Maldar * and Monalisa Nayak

Background: Loneliness is a prevalent psychological phenomenon with significant implications for mental health and well-being. Attachment theory posits that early attachment experiences shape individuals' interpersonal relationships and emotional experiences throughout life, potentially influencing susceptibility to loneliness. However, the relationship between attachment styles and loneliness remains underexplored, particularly in the context of diverse populations. Additionally, emotional quotient (EQ), which encompasses the ability to perceive, understand, regulate, and utilize emotions effectively, may play a crucial role in mitigating loneliness by facilitating adaptive coping strategies and fostering meaningful social connections. Methods: This quantitative study examined the relationship between attachment styles and loneliness among 103 participants. Attachment styles were assessed using Revised Adult Attachment Scale, emotional quotient using Schutte Emotional Intelligence Scale, while loneliness was measured using UCLA Loneliness Scale. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was employed to assess differences in loneliness scores across attachment styles, followed by post-hoc comparisons to elucidate specific patterns. Pearson’s correlation was used to find the correlation between emotional quotient and loneliness. Results: The results revealed a significant difference in loneliness scores across attachment styles (F =8.644, p &lt; 0.001). Post-hoc comparisons indicated that individuals with secure attachment styles reported significantly lower levels of loneliness compared to those with dismissive, preoccupied, and fearful attachment styles. Specifically, individuals with secure attachment styles reported a mean loneliness score of 17 (SD = 16), while those with dismissive attachment styles reported the highest mean loneliness score of 35 (SD = 12). There is a statistically significant correlation between Loneliness and Emotional Quotient with p value 0.001 at 5% level of significance. The r value is -0.486 which means that there is negative moderate correlation. Conclusion: These findings underscore the importance of considering attachment styles and emotional quotient in understanding individuals' experiences of loneliness. Individuals with secure attachment styles appear to be less vulnerable to loneliness, while those with insecure attachment styles are more likely to experience higher levels of loneliness. There is negative moderate correlation between emotional quotient and loneliness, i.e., as the emotional quotient increases, loneliness decreases. Future research may explore the underlying mechanisms and develop targeted interventions aimed at promoting secure attachment and improving emotional quotient to reduce loneliness among vulnerable populations.

The mediating role of psychological resilience, anger, and hostility in university students’ attachment styles and life satisfaction

This study examined the function of psychological resilience, anger, and hostility as mediators in the connection between attachment styles and life satisfaction among university students in Turkey. The sample size of the study was 326 university students, consisting of 218 (66.9 %) females and 108 (33.1 %) males. The mean age was 21.4 and the standard deviation of the statistic for their age was 2.7. The distribution of the sample according to grade level was as follows: first year, 92 (28.2 %) second, 152 (46.6 %) third, 46 (14.1 %) and fourth, 36 (11.1 %). The Three-Dimensional Attachment Styles Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale, Brief Psychological Resilience Scale, and Symptom Screening List were used to collect data. The study’s findings indicate that secure attachment, anxious attachment, psychological resilience, anger, and hostility are statistically significant determinants of life satisfaction. Bootstrapping analysis revealed that psychological resilience, as well as anger and hostility, partially mediated the association between secure and anxious attachment styles and life satisfaction. These results improve our understanding of the underlying mechanisms between attachment styles and life satisfaction by considering the roles of hostility and psychological resilience. We can design prevention and intervention programs to enhance psychological resilience and reduce hostility, thereby reducing the impact of anxious attachment on life satisfaction. Similarly, interventions to increase the impact of secure attachment on life satisfaction can focus on developing psychological resilience and reducing hostility.

Attachment Patterns and their Relationship with Relationship Crisis Management during the Engagement Period in Jordan

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the relationship between attachment patterns and the management of relationship crisis between partners during the engagement period in Jordan. Methods: The study employed a descriptive correlational approach. Two scales were used: the Attachment Patterns Scale and the Relationship Crisis Management Scale. The study sample consisted of a convenient sample of 412 engaged individuals in Jordan. Results: The results revealed that the most prevalent attachment pattern among engaged individuals during the engagement period was the secure attachment pattern, with a percentage of 92.7%. The avoidant attachment pattern followed at a percentage of 3.9%, while the least common pattern was the anxious attachment pattern at 3.4%. Furthermore, the results also showed a high level of relationship crisis management among engaged individuals during the engagement period. A positive linear relationship was found between secure attachment style and relationship crisis management, while an inverse relationship was observed between anxious and avoidant attachment patterns and relationship crisis management between partners. Conclusions: The results underscore the importance of considering attachment patterns and relationship crisis management during the engagement period in Jordan and reflect the need for developing educational and therapeutic plans to comprehend attachment patterns and their role in influencing crisis management processes, to arrive at effective solutions for facing and managing crises.

Harmony found: Serenity's crucial role in alleviating death anxiety through attachment styles among community-dwelling older adults

ObjectiveExplore the mediating effect of serenity in the relationships between attachment styles and death anxiety among older adults DesignA descriptive correlational research design following Strengthening Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guidelines. MethodsData were collected from 250 older adults attending three clubs. ToolsArabic Scale of Death Anxiety, Brief Serenity Scale, and Revised Adult Attachment Scale were used to collect data. ResultsMost participants exhibited high levels of serenity, with varying degrees of attachment styles and death anxiety. Correlation analysis indicates significant negative associations between death anxiety and serenity, as well as attachment styles. Secure attachment styles were positively correlated with serenity and negatively with death anxiety. Path analysis revealed that serenity partially mediated the relationship between attachment styles and death anxiety. Conclusion and implicationsFostering secure attachments and promoting serenity to mitigate death anxiety in older adults, enhancing later-life psychological well-being through informed interventions.

Attachment Style Modifies the Effect of Spousal Support on Postpartum Depression in Women.

This study aims to examine the impact of spousal support on postpartum depression in women with different attachment styles and assessing if attachment style influences this effect. From March to May 2022, 96 couples with late-stage pregnant women were randomly selected from tertiary maternity hospitals in Shandong and Guangdong provinces for a prepartum survey. Psychological assessments were conducted using the Adult Attachment Scale, Dyadic Coping Inventory, and the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) Depression Scale. To examine the relationship between each variable and postpartum depression, univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were employed. Additionally, interaction analysis was used to analyze the interplay between different attachment styles and how spousal support influences women's postpartum depression. The findings revealed that even after accounting for confounding variables, prepartum spousal support was an independent predictor of postpartum depression (adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69-0.96, P = .015). Women with a secure attachment style showed a significantly lower incidence of postpartum depression compared to those with insecure attachment styles (24.2% vs. 46%, P = .037). In the secure attachment group, spousal support had a protective effect against postpartum depression (adjusted OR = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.36-0.91, P = .018), and attachment style emerged as a potential interactive factor influencing the impact of spousal support on postpartum depression (P for interaction = .029). The provision of spousal support, especially to individuals with secure attachment styles, plays a preventive role in postpartum depression. This underscores the importance of considering attachment styles in interventions targeting postpartum depression prevention.

Intimate Partner Violence and Attachment Styles as Factors Associated with Coping Stress Styles Among Iranian Women.

The current study sought to examine attachment styles as mediators between intimate partner violence (IPV) and stress coping styles among Iranian women. Data were collected from September to December 2020. The study population was composed of 102 women who were referred to Social Emergency Centers in Isfahan and affected by domestic violence. They were given self-report questionnaires to measure IPV (the Haj-Yahia Violence Questionnaire), Stress Coping Styles (CISS), and Attachment Styles (AAQ). Structural Equation Modeling was used to test the hypothesized relationships. Sexual IPV victimization was related to both avoidant attachment (β = .229, p = .015) and anxious attachment (β = .245, p = .008). Anxious attachment style was related to emotion-oriented coping (β = .437, p = .000). There was a negative relationship between avoidant attachment and anxious attachment (β = -.237, p = .032) with avoidance-oriented coping. Sexual IPV victimization and economic IPV victimization were associated with avoidance-oriented coping (β = -.225, t = 0.816, p = .015; β = .188, t = 0.816, p = .044). Women who had experienced IPV and had an insecure attachment style were more likely to utilize avoidance and emotional coping strategies. For women who had a secure attachment style, there was no association was found between IPV victimization and coping styles. Attachment styles may influence the relationship between IPV and coping strategies in Iranian women who have experienced violence.

Exploring the Relationship Between Attachment Styles and Loneliness Levels in Young Adults

This study explores the relationship between attachment styles and loneliness levels. The study utilized correlation analysis to examine how different attachment styles might influence the experience of loneliness in this demographic. The findings provide insights into how attachment patterns can be linked to varying levels of loneliness among young adults, shedding light on the complex interplay between emotional bonds and feelings of isolation in this population. This research contributes to a better understanding of the factors that contribute to loneliness levels among young adults and may have implications for interventions aimed at addressing social isolation. Loneliness levels of individuals with secure attachment style was much lower as compared to Anxious and Avoidant styles.

Emotion regulation unveiled through the categorical lens of attachment

BackgroundEmotion regulation, the process by which individuals manage and modify their emotional experiences, expressions, and responses to adaptively navigate and cope with various situations, plays a crucial role in daily life. Our study investigates the variations in emotion regulation strategies among individuals with different attachment styles (AS). Specifically, we examine how individuals with secure, anxious, avoidant, and fearful attachment styles effectively utilize cognitive reappraisal and expressive suppression to regulate their emotions.MethodsA total of n = 98 adults were instructed to attend, reappraise, or suppress their emotions while viewing negative and neutral images from the International Affective Picture System (IAPS) in an experimental emotion regulation task. After completing the task, participants rated the valence and arousal elicited by the images. Attachment styles were measured using the ECR-12 questionnaire and then categorized into four AS.ResultsOur study revealed that individuals with secure AS (n = 39) effectively reduced displeasure through cognitive reappraisal but experienced levels of displeasure with expressive suppression. Anxious AS (n = 16) individuals successfully reduced displeasure using cognitive reappraisal but struggled to regulate arousal and effectively use expressive suppression. Avoidant AS (n = 24) individuals could reduce displeasure with both strategies but experienced high arousal during suppression attempts. Fearful AS (n = 19) individuals effectively regulated both displeasure and arousal using either strategy. However, Secure AS individuals showed superior reappraisal efficacy, significantly reducing arousal levels compared to the Fearful AS group. Both Secure and Avoidant AS groups experienced higher valence during reappraisal relative to a baseline, indicating a decrease in displeasure.ConclusionsIndividuals with different AS exhibit variations in the effectiveness of their use of emotion regulation strategies. Our findings reinforce the significance of AS in shaping emotion regulation processes and emphasize the need for tailored approaches to support individuals with different attachment orientations.

Perfectionism, Attachment Styles and Perceived Social Support in a Single Child

The purpose of the present study is to understand the relationship between perfectionism, attachment styles and perceived social support in a single child. The sample included 100 individuals, between the age of 18-30, Indian citizens, who fulfill the criteria of being an only or a single child. The sample was selected using Non-Probability sampling techniques like convenient, purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics (mean) and Pearson’s correlation analysis. The findings from this study suggest that there is an association between perfectionism, attachment styles and perceived social support. This association or correlation is such that perfectionism is negatively correlated with secure attachment style and positively correlated with all the three insecure attachment styles in an individual. Perceived social support is positively correlated with secure and dismissive attachment style whereas negatively correlated with fearful and preoccupied attachment style. Perfectionism and perceived social support are negatively correlated. Furthermore, the single child sample of the present study is found to have high perceived social support, a dominant fearful attachment style (although secure and preoccupied also have very close and similar values) and to not have high perfectionistic tendencies.