Secure Attachment Research Articles

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.

Beyond Pedagogical Expertise: Best Practices of Classroom Advisers Toward an Effective Advising Framework

Teachers do not just teach as they also fill the role of being classroom advisers of their students. This study explores their best practices through their lived experiences in managing the students in terms of their academic responsibilities, behavior, and even personal problems. The study employed a qualitative research design specifically a phenomenological approach wherein the participants of the study were selected through homogeneous purposive sampling. A series of semi-structured interviews were conducted after that, the interviews were transcribed and analyzed. The researcher came up with six emergent themes: (1) Raison d’etre: Reason for Being; (2) Development through Challenges; (3) Secure Attachment; (4) Observance of In Loco Parentis; (5) Adaptive Strategies, and; (6) Evidence of Success. It was found that classroom advisers described their lived experiences as challenging yet fulfilling duties. The best practices of classroom advisers involve establishing a connection with the students, valuing individuality, having constant communication, providing guidance, practicing parenting roles, yearning for the success of the students, being proactive, observing inclusivity in the classroom, and setting boundaries. The evidence of the success of their best practices, as presented by participants, includes gaining the trust of their students through listening and sharing stories, receiving messages of appreciation, and seeing the students transform for the better. An Effective Advising Framework was proposed based on the findings of the study which could be helpful in the classroom advisers for both public and private educational institutions.

Secure patient-therapist attachment following therapy for personality disorder in a forensic mental health setting

ABSTRACT Therapy for personality disorder can be understood as a process of enhancing attachment security. This study tests the theory that individuals in a secure forensic mental health setting with a diagnosis of personality disorder who have undertaken psychological therapy will report secure patterns of attachment in their relationship with their therapist. It uses a novel pattern matching approach that assesses the behavioural, cognitive and affective markers of attachment security in a group of patients undergoing therapy. Eight behavioural, cognitive and affective characteristics of secure attachment were identified. Ten patients completed a semi-structured interview about their experiences in therapy and key relationships, and their responses were reviewed for evidence of these eight characteristics. Nine out of ten participants were judged to have demonstrated a pattern of six or more of the eight characteristics of secure attachment. This study supports the theory that treatment for this group of patients works by developing patient-therapist attachments. A focus on attachment issues should, therefore, be a core aspect of therapy.

Mentalizing-Based Healthcare: Towards a Relational Paradigm for Chronic Illness Management

ABSTRACT This paper introduces a contemporary psychodynamic attachment approach for managing chronic illnesses with a focus on the role of impairments in mentalizing, attachment, and epistemic trust. This approach emphasizes the significance of relational dynamics in healthcare settings and may thus provide a complementary approach in health psychology which currently primarily targets individual and behavioral aspects of chronic illness by addressing the relational dynamics that are typically involved in chronic illness management. We review empirical evidence highlighting the roles of mentalizing, attachment, and epistemic trust in chronic illness. We propose an attachment and mentalizing-based healthcare paradigm that prioritizes relational dynamics that aligns with emerging health psychology trends, offering a holistic approach to patient care. Finally, we present some practical implications of this approach, underscoring the importance of psychologists working in health in fostering secure attachment, epistemic trust and mentalizing within patient-provider relationships. This involves tailoring patient interactions and psychoeducation to individual needs and narratives, enhancing treatment adherence and well-being.

Humanitarian Love in Values-Based Practice and Health Professionals’ Psychosocial Outcomes: Systematic Review

IntroductionThe literature on Values-Based Practice often neglects the significance of love in therapeutic interactions, sometimes treating it as taboo or crossing professional boundaries.ObjectivesThis systematic review investigates the role of humanitarian love in the lives of healthcare professionals and its psychosocial impact, aiming to establish it as a core value in values-based practice.MethodsWe conducted a PRISMA 2020-compliant systematic review, searching databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Scopus) from inception to April 3, 2023, using PEO elements: health professionals (P), love (E), psychosocial impact (O). Two independent reviewers conducted screening, data extraction, and bias assessment. A narrative synthesis of the data was applied. The selection process is presented in Figure 1.ResultsEight articles met the inclusion criteria, comprising 1,948 participants (median age: 28.55). Humanitarian love encompassed compassionate love, self-compassion, and affection. Humanitarian love showed a negative correlation with burnout, compassion fatigue, self-judgment, and secure attachment, while positively correlating with professional well-being, professional commitment, self-care, patience, diversity acceptance, spirituality, self-kindness, and ethical values. Humanitarian love significantly influenced healthcare professionals’ psychosocial well-being. The main outcomes are presented in Figure 2.Image:Image 2:ConclusionsThis review highlights humanitarian love’s potential to enhance the psychosocial well-being of healthcare professionals and emphasizes its significance as a core value in values-based practice. Cultivating humanitarian love among healthcare professionals through research and interventions could bolster their resilience, job satisfaction, and overall fulfillment in their roles.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Do attachment styles influence the sexual function of an individual?

IntroductionAttachment theory, first proposed by John Bowlby and later extended by Mary Ainsworth and others, outlines how experiences of early childhood attachment with caregivers can affect one’s emotional and interpersonal relationships throughout adulthood. Typically, attachment styles are categorised into four main types: secure, anxious-ambivalent, avoidant and disorganised. Conversely, it is recognised that various biological, psychological, relational, social and iatrogenic factors elements can impact an individual’s sexual function.ObjectivesOur aim with this research was to present the most current literature on whether there is a correlation between attachment styles and sexual function.MethodsWe conducted a non-systematic review on the topic using PubMed and PsycInfo.ResultsThere is evidence indicating a link between attachment styles and sexual function.People with secure attachment styles tend to experience more positive and fulfilling sexual relationships. Such individuals typically have a more positive self-image, they feel at ease with emotional intimacy, and are therefore able to openly communicate their needs and desires. They exhibit a healthy balance between seeking closeness and maintaining independence.Individuals with anxious attachment styles may experience heightened levels of sexual anxiety and insecurity. Concerns regarding rejection or abandonment within sexual relationships may impact their sexual function and satisfaction. These individuals usually have a negative self-image and may be more prone to seek reassurance and validation through sexual activities.People with avoidant attachment styles may encounter obstacles in developing emotional intimacy and closeness, which can negatively affect their sexual relationships. Such individuals might experience commitment anxiety and prioritise physical aspects of sexual activity over emotional bonding, ultimately decreasing sexual satisfaction for both them and their partners.Disorganised attachment styles are linked with challenges in regulating their emotions and behaviours in intimate situations, which can have a negative impact on sexual function and satisfaction.ConclusionsWhile the literature proposes attachment styles may impact sexual function, it is important to acknowledge other factors that contribute to sexual function. In addition to biological and iatrogenic factors, individual personality, relationship dynamics, past experiences, and cultural influences all have a significant role in shaping one’s sexual behaviour and satisfaction. All of these should be addressed in order to alleviate sexual difficulties.Moreover, attachment styles may develop and change over time through positive relationships and therapeutic interventions, potentially leading to changes in one’s sexual functioning and relationship dynamics.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Associations of sexual dysfunction with problematic pornography use and attachment styles: a cross-sectional study of Hungarian-Spanish samples

IntroductionIn the last decades, growing evidence suggests, that young adults and even adolescents consume more and more pornographic content, which might lead to behavioural addictions. Excessive pornography use was found to be associated with higher rates of sexual dysfunctions, such as genital dysfunction or disorders related to desire, arousal, orgasm and pain. The role of attachment style on sexual function has still rarely been investigated.ObjectivesTo examine associations between sexual dysfunction, problematic pornography use and attachment styles in a Spanish-Hungarian sample.MethodsA cross-sectional comparative study was carried out in 2023 which included a Hungarian (N=447; 63% female; age: 30,5±9,8) and a Spanish sample (N=201; 72% female; age: 40,7±14) from the general population. In the online survey, we used the Arizona Sexual Experiences Scale (ASEX) to measure sexual dysfunction, the Problematic Pornography Use Scale (PPCS) to assess pornographic content consumption within the theoretical framework of addiction and the Relationships Questionnaire to explore the attachment styles of the subjects.Results13% of the Hungarian sample and 19% of the Spanish sample reported severe sexual dysfunction (ASEXTotal >19). The Hungarian sample reported more problems related to orgasm (climax and satisfaction). Overall, 7% of the Hungarian sample and 1% of the Spanish sample reported very severe problems (PPCSTotal >76) with pornography use. We found significant differences in every subscale and the Hungarian sample reportedly showed more difficulties in every aspect, especially in salience and mood change. Regarding attachment styles, the samples also showed significant differences (Hungarian: 31% secure, 26% anxious-ambivalent, 20% avoidant, 23% disorganized; Spanish: 53% secure, 11% anxious-ambivalent, 23% avoidant, 13% disorganized). In the combined sample, secure attachment style was associated with the least difficulties in sexual functioning, whereas subjects with anxious-ambivalent style reported more problems in sexual drive, arousal and erection. Disorganized attachment style was associated with the most severe dysfunction in orgasm (climax and satisfaction). The association between problematic pornography use and attachment styles was more consistent. Secure attachment style showed the least of problems, whereas subjects with anxious-ambivalent and disorganized attachment styles reported the most, especially in salience and mood change.ConclusionsOur findings showed significant intercultural differences between the two samples and highlighted the potential role of attachment styles in sexual functioning and problematic pornography use. A more profound understanding of the relationship between attachment and sexual functioning could facilitate potential treatment of sexual dysfunctions by addressing attachment issues in psychotherapy.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Mental Well-Being in Adolescence: A Systematic Review

Mental well-being is defined as an individual's awareness of his/her own potentials, making an effort to overcome the challenging experiences he/she encounters, being productive in his/her individual and social life and trying to contribute to society within the framework of his/her abilities. In this study, it is aimed to systematically review the research theses conducted to determine the variables associated with mental well-being in adolescents. For this purpose, a search was made in the National Thesis Center database using the key concept of mental well-being. As a result of the screening, 4 postgraduate theses conducted with adolescents were accessed. In the studies conducted with adolescents, the relationship between mental well-being and variables such as playing sports, time spent on social media, perceived social support, attachment to mother and father, gender, age, level of education of mother and father, perceived income level are examined. The findings of the research show that the mental well-being scores of the groups who regularly do sports and participate in social activities increase. In the studies examined, there was a significant positive relationship between the level of secure attachment to mother and father and mental well-being, and a significant negative relationship with social media time. Perceived social support was found to be a significant predictor of mental well-being in adolescents. As a result, doing regular sports, spending less time on social media, being aware of social support resources, and having secure attachment positively benefit adolescents' mental well-being levels. These results will shed light on preventive and protective guidance and counseling practices for adolescents' well-being levels.

Trust-Based Relational Intervention® (TBRI®) Impact for Traumatized Children-Meaningful Change on Attachment Security and Mental Health after One Year.

Children from vulnerable backgrounds often have insecure attachment or disorganized attachment, which are related to psychological troubles, and such children need interventions to help them heal. The attachment system reorganizes in middle childhood, and other important adults play a considerable role in children's lives. Thus, it is essential to weigh the impact of psychosocial interventions, while the main focus of the intervention is the staff member's direct work with the child through a trusting relationship. The primary purpose of this study is to investigate whether children's attachment security and mental health outcomes change after participating in a trauma-informed, attachment-based, Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) provided in a daycare center. It was a case-series study involving twelve children aged 8-11 years. The child attachment interview (CAI), CBCL/6-18, TRF/6-18, and clinical interviews for parents and children were used, measuring the change between the TBRI implementation in the daycare center and after one year. For ten participants, we noticed an improvement in mental health; for seven participants, security scales improved; for two participants, their disorganized attachment changed into insecure-dismissing. We have preliminary evidence that vulnerable children may benefit in terms of attachment security and mental health from the trusting relationship that staff build using the TBRI.

Predicting emotion regulation in typically developing toddlers: Insights into the joint and unique influences of various contextual predictors

Emotion regulation (ER) is a source of risk and resilience for psychological development and everyday functioning. Despite extensive research on various early contextual predictors of child ER capacity, few studies have integrated them into the same study. Therefore, our longitudinal study investigated the joint and independent contributions of several prominent contextual predictors of child ER capacity. We followed typically developing children and their caregivers (N = 118, 47% girls) at three time points (children ages 10, 12, and 18 months). At 10 months, mothers reported household chaos, social support, and parenting stress, and maternal sensitivity was observed and coded with the Ainsworth’s Maternal Sensitivity Scales. At 12 months, child–mother attachment security was assessed using the Strange Situation Procedure. Finally, at 18 months, child ER was obtained with a Laboratory Temperament Assessment Battery frustration task. Correlational analyses revealed that household chaos and maternal sensitivity were significantly positively associated with child ER. Multiple regression analyses showed independent effects of household chaos and maternal sensitivity on child ER. Our partly counterintuitive results underscore the significance of cumulative risk and protective factors for ER development and suggest that household chaos and maternal sensitivity may contribute uniquely to better ER in typical toddlerhood.

Toward an improved conceptualization of emotions in patients with cancer.

Cancer and its associated treatment is a major stressor, leading to emotions such as anxiety or depressive mood. Human emotions have developed through the course of evolution because they facilitate adaptation to important events, such as cancer and its associated treatment. On the other hand, emotions can be maladaptive and interfere with adaptation to cancer. Emotions are maladaptive if they are disproportionally severe or persistent, and if they interfere with functioning. We aim to expand the conceptualization of adaptive and maladaptive emotions in patients with cancer. We draw on major theories in the field of mental disorder and mental health, and apply these theories to conceptualize adaptive and maladaptive emotions in patients with cancer. (i) Maladaptive emotions have two essential features: mental dysfunction and patient harm. Maladaptive emotions are characterized by a network of strongly associated emotional symptoms, which may include cancer-related somatic symptoms. The dysfunctional symptom network is hypothesized to be the result of disturbance of life goal pursuit caused by cancer. (ii) Adaptive emotions have two essential features: ability to deal with cancer and functioning well. The ability to use emotions in an adaptive way depends on skills to recognize, express, and regulate emotions in a flexible manner. A secure attachment style facilitates adaptive emotional responses to cancer. The present conceptualization of adaptive and maladaptive emotions is expected to contribute to better understanding and management of emotions in patients with cancer.

Does compassion mediate the relationship between attachment style and prosocial behaviour?

Prosocial behaviour refers to actions we take that are beneficial to others. Attachment styles range from secure to insecure, with insecure attachment being comprised of either an anxious or an avoidant style. The current research explores the mediating role of both self and other compassion in the relationship of attachment style and prosocial behaviour. Participants were 346 undergraduate psychology students who completed an online survey. Correlation and mediation analyses were conducted. Results revealed that there was no mediation effect of compassion for the self or others with any of the attachment styles and prosocial behaviour. Contrary to expectations, secure attachment was not associated with prosocial behaviour. Compassion for others was the strongest predictor of prosocial behaviour. Implications for clinical practice are discussed. Keywords: Attachment; Compassion; Mediation; Prosocial

Does Attachment Security Matter? A Study of Caregivers’ Reactions to a Child’s Coming out

Disclosing a diverse sexual orientation to caregivers can be a stressful and transformative experience for individuals and families. In this retrospective study, attachment theory is applied to caregivers’ recollection of their children’s disclosure of a diverse sexual orientation, testing the hypothesis that caregivers’ attachment anxiety would significantly predict more negative self-reported reactions to coming out. Caregivers of sexually diverse people (n = 154) completed a survey with measures of self-reported reactions to their child’s coming out, attachment anxiety and avoidance, attitudes toward lesbian women and gay men, conservatism, family functioning and strength of religious faith. Attachment anxiety, but not avoidance, significantly predicted caregivers’ reactions, however this relationship was not significant when covariates were added to the model. Exploratory analyses using t-tests were conducted to examine differences in study variables among LGBTQ+ and non-LGBTQ+ caregivers, and caregivers of cisgender and gender diverse children. The results support previous research, indicating that caregiver’s attitudes and religiosity are predictive of caregivers’ reactions to their children coming out and provide preliminary evidence of differential responses to coming out by caregivers’ LGBTQ+ identity.

Visualizing the invisible tie: Linking parent-child neural synchrony to parents' and children's attachment representations.

It is a central tenet of attachment theory that individual differences in attachment representations organize behavior during social interactions. Secure attachment representations also facilitate behavioral synchrony, a key component of adaptive parent-child interactions. Yet, the dynamic neural processes underlying these interactions and the potential role of attachment representations remain largely unknown. A growing body of research indicates that interpersonal neural synchrony (INS) could be a potential neurobiological correlate of high interaction and relationship quality. In this study, we examined whether interpersonal neural and behavioral synchrony during parent-child interaction is associated with parent and child attachment representations. In total, 140 parents (74 mothers and 66 fathers) and their children (age 5-6 years; 60 girls and 80 boys) engaged in cooperative versus individual problem-solving. INS in frontal and temporal regions was assessed with functional near-infrared spectroscopy hyperscanning. Attachment representations were ascertained by means of the Adult Attachment Interview in parents and a story-completion task in children, alongside video-coded behavioral synchrony. Findings revealed increased INS during cooperative versus individual problem solving across all dyads (𝛸2(2)=9.37, p=0.009). Remarkably, individual differences in attachment representations were associated with INS but not behavioral synchrony (p>0.159) during cooperation. More specifically, insecure maternal attachment representations were related to higher mother-child INS in frontal regions (𝛸2(3)=9.18, p=0.027). Conversely, secure daughter attachment representations were related to higher daughter-parent INS within temporal regions (𝛸2(3)=12.58, p=0.006). Our data thus provide further indication for INS as a promising correlate to probe the neurobiological underpinnings of attachment representations in the context of early parent-child interactions. RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS: We assessed attachment representations using narrative measures and interpersonal neural synchrony (INS) during parent-child problem-solving. Dyads including mothers with insecure attachment representations showed higher INS in left prefrontal regions. Dyads including daughters with secure attachment representations showed higher INS in right temporo-parietal regions. INS is a promising correlate to probe the neurobiological underpinnings of attachment representations in the context of parent-child interactions, especially within the mutual prediction framework.

Psychoeducational Film Intervention with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to Enhance Secure Attachment of Students towards Parents

Psychoeducational Film Intervention with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to Enhance Secure Attachment of Students towards Parents

Exploring attachment security in a sample of Lebanese adolescents: The validation of the Arabic IPPA-R.

Despite growing evidence supporting the importance of the quality of attachment during adolescence, no studies have been conducted to date in the Arab world due to an absence of valid and reliable tools to measure this construct in Arabic. The Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment-Revised (IPPA-R) was devised as a self-report questionnaire in English to assess the quality of adolescent attachment to mother, father, and peers, each scale consisting of 25 items. The current study sets out to determine the psychometric properties of the Arabic IPPA-R and to explore attachment styles in Lebanon in a sample of 765 Lebanese adolescents. Results suggested a modified three-factor structure to reach satisfactory reliability of the Arabic IPPA-R, resulting in a modified questionnaire consisting of 19 items for each of mother (α = .82) and father (α = .85), and 21 items for peers (α = .89). Strict measurement invariance across gender was achieved for the IPPA-R parental forms, while only scalar invariance was achieved for the IPPA-R peers form. Overall, there were significant differences in attachment scores to mother and father, with adolescents scoring higher on attachment to mother, with both scores being significantly lower than attachment to peers. Gender differences were found on the peer scale with girls scoring significantly higher than boys. Results are interpreted from a cultural lens, emphasizing the importance of accounting for cultural, religious, and socio-economic factors in understanding adolescent attachment. This study is the first conducted in the Arab region and provides a road map to understanding gender-roles, parental expectations and adolescent perceived parenting, and their impact on adolescent attachment scores.

A longitudinal investigation of caregiving and adolescent post-traumatic stress symptoms during COVID-19: evidence for high resting RSA as a susceptibility factor.

Post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) were the most frequently reported mental health concern for youth during COVID-19, yet variations in youth's PTSS responses warrant empirical consideration. Features of the caregiving environment influence youth's responses to environmental stressors, and youth's parasympathetic nervous system regulation may qualify the magnitude and/or direction of these effects. This prospective investigation evaluated diathesis stress and differential susceptibility models of caregiving and parasympathetic influences on youth's PTSS responses to COVID-19. Participants were 225 caregiver-youth dyads (youth 49.8% female at birth; 88.4% non-white) followed from childhood through adolescence and COVID-19. Youth's resting respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA; Mage = 6.11, s.d. = 0.21), caregiving features (i.e. attachment security [youth Mage = 12.24, s.d. = 0.35] and caregiver internalizing psychopathology [caregiver Mage = 39.29, s.d. = 6.78]) were assessed pre-pandemic. Youth's PTSS was assessed one year prior to the US COVID-19 pandemic (Mage = 14.24, s.d. = 0.50) and during the spring of 2020 at the height of the pandemic (Mage = 15.23, s.d. = 0.57). Youth's PTSS increased during COVID-19. Youth with relatively high resting RSA evidenced the lowest PTSS when their caregiving environment featured high attachment security or low caregiver internalizing problems, but the highest PTSS when their caregiving environment featured low attachment security or high caregiver internalizing problems. In contrast, PTSS levels of youth with relatively low or average resting RSA did not differ significantly depending on attachment security or caregiver internalizing. Results are consistent with a differential susceptibility hypothesis, wherein relatively high resting RSA conferred heightened sensitivity to caregiving environments in a for-better-and-for-worse manner during COVID-19.

Gestational diabetes perception profiles based on attachment style: a cross-sectional study

AimsGestational diabetes (GDM) is a prevalent complication in pregnancy that requires effective self-management, which can be influenced by illness perceptions. Moreover, behavioral regulation can be affected by attachment styles. Thus, our study aimed to identify common GDM perception profiles and test their association with attachment styles.MethodsIn this cross-sectional study, 446 women completed the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ), the Brief Illness Perception Questionnaire (BIPQ), and additional items about GDM diagnosis, information, competence, adherence, behavioral change. Latent profile analysis (LPA) was conducted to determine GDM perception profiles. Multinomial logistic regression followed to calculate the association between GDM perception profiles and attachment styles.ResultsThree distinct profiles emerged: coping (n = 172, 38.6%)—characterized by the most positive GDM perception, burdened (n = 222, 49.8%)—indicating the emotional burden of the disease, and resourceless (n = 52, 11.7%)—reporting lack of resources (i.e. information, competence). Women with insecure attachment styles were more likely to develop a burdened GDM perception profile. Specifically, the expression of a fearful (OR = 1.184 [95%CI: 1.03; 1.36], p = 0.016) and a preoccupied (OR = 1.154 [95%CI: 1.01; 1.32], p = 0.037) attachment style increased the likelihood for a burdened perception profile, while a secure attachment style (OR = 10.791 [95%CI: 0.65; 0.96], p = 0.017) decreased likelihood for developing resourceless GDM perception profile.ConclusionsThree GDM perception profiles were identified and the role of attachment styles in shaping these perceptions was confirmed. Further studies are needed to investigate whether a tailored treatment approach based on the predominant attachment style could lead to more positive GDM perceptions, improved glycemic control, and better perinatal outcomes.

Maternal attachment security modulates the relationship between vulnerability to anxiety and attentional bias to threat in healthy children

This study aimed to investigate whether attentional bias to threat, commonly observed in clinically anxious children, also manifests in healthy children, potentially aiding the early detection of at-risk individuals. Additionally, it sought to explore the moderating role of parent–child attachment security on the association between vulnerability factors (anxiety sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, perseverative cognitions) as indicators of vulnerability to anxiety, and attentional bias towards threat in healthy children. A total of 95 children aged 8 to 12 years completed the Visual Search Task to assess attentional bias. Vulnerability to anxiety was measured using a composite score derived from the Childhood Anxiety Sensitivity Index, Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale for Children, and Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire. Parent–child attachment security was assessed using the Security Scale-Child Self-Report. Analyses revealed that higher vulnerability to anxiety was associated with faster detection of anger-related stimuli compared to neutral ones, and this association was further influenced by high maternal security. These findings in healthy children suggest an interaction between specific factors related to anxiety vulnerability and the security of the mother–child relationship, leading to cognitive patterns resembling those seen in clinically anxious individuals. These results hold promise for early identification of children at risk of developing anxiety disorders.

The Relationship Between Attachment Styles and Marital Satisfaction: The Mediating Role of Storytelling Enjoyment and Narrative Mindset

This study aims to investigate the relationship between attachment styles and marital satisfaction (MS) through their storytelling enjoyment (SE) and narrative mindset (NM). This was a correlational study of structural equations modeling (SEM) type. 294 married persons (145 men and 149 women) were selected using convenience sampling. The results indicated that the proposed model has a good fit. Secure attachment style had a significant positive relationship with MS through SE and NM, and ambivalent attachment style showed the same relationship negatively. Examination of the gender factor showed that the model had a good fit for women but not for men.