Attachment representations in a population of elderly subjects

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (S1) ◽  
pp. S188-S188
Author(s):  
M. Moalla ◽  
I. Feki ◽  
A. Ktata ◽  
R. Sellami ◽  
D. Triqui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Adult Life ◽  
Psychological Trauma ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Elderly Subjects ◽  
Secure Attachment ◽  
Attachment Representations ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
The Individual

IntroductionAccording to attachment theory, attachment relationships have a lasting impact on the functioning of the individual. If this impact has been much studied in children, few studies have been conducted in the elderly.ObjectivesExplore the representations of attachment in a population of elderly subjects.MethodsThe sample consists of 90 consultants over the age of 65. Each participant filled out demographic questionnaire, Relationship Scale Questionnaire (RSQ): questionnaire of 13 items, each item rated from 1 to 5, a lower score attests a more secure attachment and Adult Attachment Questionnaire: a categorical scale of 3 statements. Statement 1 corresponds to secure attachment style, 2 to avoidant attachment style and 3 to anxious-ambivalent attachment style.ResultsThe age of participants ranged from 65 to 95 years with an average of 68.14. The sex ratio M:F was 0.8. The RSQ Score ranged from 16 to 56 with an average of 37.27. Of the participants, 72.2% have secure attachment style, 24.4% have an avoidant attachment style and 3.3% have an anxious-ambivalent attachment style. The study of correlations showed strong correlation between the two scales (P = 0.00) and the RSQ score was significantly associated with poor satisfaction of married life (P = 0.025), presence of psychological trauma in childhood (P = 0.016) and a separation experience (P = 0.029).ConclusionOur study highlights the importance of early childhood experiences that may impact late adult life. These finding are in accordance with attachment theory.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

scholarly journals The role of cognitive schemas in the relationship between attachment style and emotional intelligence

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 54-69
Author(s):  
Elena Morena Scarlat
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Intelligence ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Cognitive Schemas ◽  
Secure Attachment ◽  
Anxious Attachment ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The Relationship

The current study focuses on the idea that the relationship between attachment styles and emotional intelligence can be influenced by cognitive schemas. It is well known that the first interaction between the child and his mother lays the foundations of attachment. The extent to which it develops guides the individual throughout his life making him responsible for his own actions and decisions. In this way studying the three variables becomes the main objective of the study. The data were collected on an online form, using the snowball method by which subjects were able to share the questionnaire to acquaintances to gather a larger number of people. The study was attended by 281 people aged between 18 to 40 years, M = 21.98, SD = 4.10, of which, 52 were males (18.50%) and 229 females (81.50%), 134 were single (47.69%) and 147 were in a relationship (52.31%), 48 people come from single-parent families (17.08%) and 233 come from two-parent families (82.92%). The results were as expected, secure attachment constitutes a significant positive predictor of emotional intelligence while the anxious attachment was a significant negative predictor of emotional intelligence. The results also showed that avoidant attachment would be a significant positive predictor of emotional intelligence. Following the results it was observed that there is a mediation between cognitive schema and the relationship between attachment styles and emotional intelligence. The secure attachment style was significantly negatively associated with all three types of schemas as expected.

Effects of Attachment Styles on the Experience of Equity in Heterosexual Couples Relationships

2003 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 298-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ina Grau ◽  
Jörg Doll
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Intimate Relationships ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
The Other ◽  
Heterosexual Couples ◽  
Secure Attachment ◽  
Dependent Variables ◽  
Equity Ratio

Abstract. Employing one correlational and two experimental studies, this paper examines the influence of attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant) on a person’s experience of equity in intimate relationships. While one experimental study employed a priming technique to stimulate the different attachment styles, the other involved vignettes describing fictitious characters with typical attachment styles. As the specific hypotheses about the single equity components have been developed on the basis of the attachment theory, the equity ratio itself and the four equity components (own outcome, own input, partner’s outcome, partner’s input) are analyzed as dependent variables. While partners with a secure attachment style tend to describe their relationship as equitable (i.e., they give and take extensively), partners who feel anxious about their relationship generally see themselves as being in an inequitable, disadvantaged position (i.e., they receive little from their partner). The hypothesis that avoidant partners would feel advantaged as they were less committed was only supported by the correlational study. Against expectations, the results of both experiments indicate that avoidant partners generally see themselves (or see avoidant vignettes) as being treated equitably, but that there is less emotional exchange than is the case with secure partners. Avoidant partners give and take less than secure ones.

Attachment and hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis functioning in patients with eating disorders

2017 ◽  
Vol 41 (S1) ◽  
pp. S551-S552 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Monaco ◽  
A.M. Monteleone ◽  
F. Pellegrino ◽  
V. Ruzzi ◽  
G. Fico ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Eating Disorders ◽  
Stress Response ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Secure Attachment ◽  
Response System ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
Stress Response System ◽  
Hpa Axis Functioning

IntroductionAttachment theory suggests that different attachment styles influence the development of individual's self-esteem and modulate the individual's ability to manage stressful events by responding with adequate affective adjustment. High levels of insecure attachment are present in adults with Eating Disorders (EDs).ObjectivesThe variables that mediate the association between attachment style and EDs have not been investigated enough. The possibility exists that the endogenous stress response system is involved.AimsTo appraise the role of the endogenous stress response system, we studied the effect of attachment styles on the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis functioning in ED patients.MethodsFifty- two women with EDs and 25 healthy women completed the ECR questionnaire to assess their attachment style. Saliva samples were taken in the morning to measure the Cortisol Awakening Response (CAR). Moreover, the saliva cortisol response to the Trier-Social-Stress-Test (TSST) was measured in 30 ED patients and 15 healthy controls.ResultsPatients with avoidant attachment showed an increased CAR compared to both healthy controls and to patients with anxious and secure attachment styles. In the initial TSST phase, cortisol levels decreased in the secure attachment group but not in patients with avoidant attachment. In the TSST stress response phase, the cortisol raise was higher in insecure patients and delayed in avoidant ones.ConclusionsIn adults with EDs, attachment styles affect the HPA axis functioning and this could have a role in the pathophysiology of EDs.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Relations between attachment styles, ageism and quality of life in late life

2010 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1353-1361 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ehud Bodner ◽  
Sara Cohen-Fridel
Keyword(s):  
Quality Of Life ◽  
Elderly People ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Late Life ◽  
The Elderly ◽  
Human Beings ◽  
Secure Attachment ◽  
Sf 36

ABSTRACTBackground: This study is the first to explore the relations between attachment styles, ageism, and quality of life (QoL) among elderly people. The attachment theory describes how human beings relate to each other, according to their attachment style. Previous studies have examined the connection between attachment styles and prejudice toward distinctive social groups and minorities. Ageism as a form of prejudice is a way of relating negatively to people because they are old. QoL among the elderly was found to be associated with negative age-perceptions. It was therefore hypothesized that QoL, attachments styles, and demographic characteristics can explain ageism among the elderly.Methods: Four questionnaires were administered: Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA), which comprises four scales (separation, affective, stereotype, and intergeneration); Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, which measures four attachment styles (secure, dismissive, fearful, and preoccupied); SF-36 health status inventory (eight scales); and sociodemographic questions. Ninety-four elderly men and women aged 64–85 years living in the community completed the questionnaires.Results: MANCOVAS indicated that securely attached individuals score higher on separation than fearfully attached individuals, and that securely and dismissively attached individuals score higher than fearful and preoccupied individuals on seven QoL scales. Multiple regression analyses showed that attachment styles, age, gender, and some QoL scales contribute to the explained variance of ageism.Conclusions: Secure attachment in late life seems to be related to less ageism and a better QoL. The enhancement of a secure attachment base in elderly people may assist in moderating ageism and improving older people's QoL.

scholarly journals Model of the Relationships between Supervising Working Alliance, Counseling Self-Esteem and Attachment Styles

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 124
Author(s):  
Ahmad Al- Shraifin
Keyword(s):  
Working Alliance ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Direct Relationship ◽  
Counseling Students ◽  
Self Esteem ◽  
Secure Attachment ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
Indirect Relationship ◽  
The Relationship

The study aimed to explore the causal relationships between supervising working alliance, counseling self-esteem and attachment styles through a causal model adopting a path analysis method. The study sample consisted of 289 counseling students at Yarmouk University. Three scales were administered to measure the supervising working alliance, self-esteem and attachment styles.  Results showed a direct relationship between avoidant attachment styles and supervising working alliance, and an indirect relationship with counseling self-esteem. There was a direct relationship between secure attachment style, supervising working alliance and counseling self-esteem; and between supervising working alliance and counseling self-esteem.  In addition, direct and indirect relationships were evident between avoidant attachment style and special relationship domain of supervising working alliance and counseling self-esteem; whereas it affected client focus domain with a direct relationship. Direct relationships also were evident between secure attachment styles, the relationship domain and self-focus domain.  

scholarly journals Fear of Relationship Loss: Attachment Style as a Vulnerability Factor in Job Burnout

2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 146-154
Author(s):  
Andreja Pšeničny ◽  
Mitja Perat
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Risk Groups ◽  
Burnout Syndrome ◽  
Secure Attachment ◽  
Work Addiction ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
Addiction Risk ◽  
Burnout Risk ◽  
Preoccupied Attachment

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the correlation between attachment styles and various burnout risk groups (“relaxed”, “wornout”, “challenged” and “burnout”) and whether attachment styles suitably discriminate between individual burnout risk groups.MethodThe study involved 2,320 participants (1,668 women and 652 men), who completed an adrenal burnout syndrome questionnaire, a performance-based self esteem scale, a work addiction risk test and a relationship questionnaire.ResultsA one-way analysis of variance confirmed attachment style differences between burnout risk groups. The challenged and burnout groups differed from the relaxed and wornout groups by having a significantly lower secure attachment style score and a higher insecure (avoidant and preoccupied) attachment style score. The canonical discriminant analysis showed that the predictors (secure, preoccupied and avoidant attachment styles) can be used to appropriately classify 85.4% of respondents in the predicted burnout risk groups.ConclusionThe study confirmed the hypothesis that two insecure attachment styles (i.e. avoidant and preoccupied) predominate in the challenged and burnout groups, and that a secure attachment style predominates in the relaxed and wornout groups. Burnout syndrome can thus be conceived as the result of excessive and compulsive efforts to retain a relationship that is perceived as insecure or to reduce (excessive) fear of losing this relationship.

scholarly journals Prevalence of a Forgivingness Tolerance Trait among University Students and its Relationship with Attachment Styles

2017 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Ahmad M. Mahasneh
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Secure Attachment ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
Hashemite University ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Academic Specialization

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of a forgiveness trait among university students and its relationship with attachment styles, and to determine any differences in the extent of forgiveness based on gender, academic specialization and academic level variables. Participants in the study consisted of 784 male and female undergraduate students at the Hashemite University in the academic year 2013-2014, who completed both the attachment styles and forgiveness traits scales. Results indicated a moderate prevalence of the forgiveness trait and no significant differences were found due to gender, while significant differences were found due to academic specialization in favor of humanist specializations and academic level in favor of third and fourth academic levels. Results also indicated that the secure attachment style indicated a positive relationship with the forgiveness trait, whereas no significant relationship was found between the anxious or avoidant attachment styles, and the forgiveness trait.

scholarly journals Adult Attachment Styles as Predictors of Different Types of Ingroup Identification

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Rubin
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Style ◽  
Adult Attachment ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Social Groups ◽  
Social Identification ◽  
Secure Attachment ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
Adult Attachment Styles ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Ingroup Identification

The primary goal of the present research was to explore the relationship between adult attachment styles and four different types of identification with social groups. The results confirmed predictions and revealed that particular prototypic attachment styles are associated with an increase in only certain types of ingroup identification. People with secure attachment style had higher social identification than people with a dismissive-avoidant attachment style. Participants with secure attachment style showed higher communal identification than participants who had either a dismissive-avoidant or a fearful-avoidant attachment style. These findings supported the idea that relationship attachment style has an important effect on the way people identify with their social groups and can serve as a predictor of preferred type of ingroup identity

scholarly journals Prevalence of a Forgivingness Tolerance Trait among University Students and its Relationship with Attachment Styles

2017 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Ahmad M. Mahasneh
Keyword(s):  
University Students ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Secure Attachment ◽  
Academic Level ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
Hashemite University ◽  
Academic Year ◽  
Academic Specialization

This study aimed to identify the prevalence of a forgiveness trait among university students and its relationship with attachment styles, and to determine any differences in the extent of forgiveness based on gender, academic specialization and academic level variables. Participants in the study consisted of 784 male and female undergraduate students at the Hashemite University in the academic year 2013-2014, who completed both the attachment styles and forgiveness traits scales. Results indicated a moderate prevalence of the forgiveness trait and no significant differences were found due to gender, while significant differences were found due to academic specialization in favor of humanist specializations and academic level in favor of third and fourth academic levels. Results also indicated that the secure attachment style indicated a positive relationship with the forgiveness trait, whereas no significant relationship was found between the anxious or avoidant attachment styles, and the forgiveness trait.

Relation of Attachment Style with Marital Conflict

2003 ◽  
Vol 92 (3_suppl) ◽  
pp. 1135-1140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Ali Besharat
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Marital Conflict ◽  
Couples Therapy ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Marital Conflicts ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
The University ◽  
Relationship Of

During the last decade attachment theory has been used as a framework for understanding how adult relationships function. Attachment theory should focus exploration of whether attachment history might be related to later marital conflicts. The aim of this paper was to examine the relationship of attachment styles with marital conflicts. Subjects were 20 couples who entered couples therapy for their marital conflict and a sample of 20 university student couples All answered the Adult Attachment Inventory and the Golombok-Rust Inventory of Marital State. The university couples described themselves as more securely attached to their partners than the married couples. The Anxious and Avoidant styles were associated with greater problems in the marital relationship. Secure, Anxious, and Avoidant attachment styles seemed to be associated with the quality of marital relationships. Couples who exhibited a Secure attachment style tended to be involved in relationships characterized by greater interdependence, trust, commitment, and satisfaction whereas those with insecure styles tended to be characterized by more problems.

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