Relations between Attachment, Resilience, and Earned Security in Japanese University Students

This study investigated the relations between attachment, resilience, and earned security in Japanese university students. It was hypothesized that resilience would have a positive relationship with attachment and that people who had an insecure attachment style but high resilience would also have high earned security. An earned security scale was developed, based on the Naikan thought scale and attachment theory. The earned-security scales, a resilience scale, and an internal working model scale were administered to 343 university students. Three trends were apparent: (1) positive correlations between secure attachment scores and resilience scores; (2) negative correlations between insecure ambivalent attachment scores and resilience scores, but people classified in the ambivalent attachment cluster and high resilience group had higher earned security; and (3) avoidant attachment scores had negligible correlations with resilience and earned security.

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Insecure Attachment and Other Help-Seeking Barriers among Women Depressed Postpartum

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17113887 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (11) ◽

pp. 3887

Author(s):

Emily Cacciola ◽

Elia Psouni

Keyword(s):

Attachment Style ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Attachment Styles ◽

Qualitative Methodology ◽

Insecure Attachment ◽

Treatment Programs ◽

Entire Family ◽

Relational Experiences ◽

Avoidant Attachment ◽

Seeking Behavior

When untreated, postpartum depression (PPD) can severely, negatively affect maternal health, child development, and the wellbeing and functioning of the entire family. Yet, despite screening and treatment programs for PPD, many women who experience depression with onset in the postpartum year do not communicate their symptoms. Negative relational experiences early in life, such as not receiving sensitive help and support when needed, often result in so-called insecure attachment styles, and there is evidence that these may contribute to the development and maintenance of PPD. However, the role of insecure attachment styles in non-help-seeking is unknown for this group. Using mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology, we identified help-seeking barriers of women who experienced depression with onset in the postpartum year but who had not sought help for their depression (N = 37), and explored links to their attachment orientations as assessed through both self-reported attachment style and narrative based attachment script assessment. The sample was non-normative regarding attachment, with an over-representation of avoidant attachment styles. Help-seeking barriers varied systematically with the mother’s adult attachment style. Specifically, convictions of a strong self and lack of trust in healthcare professionals constituted a common barrier among women with avoidant attachment styles, while unrealistic expectations about motherhood constituted a barrier for women with secure attachment styles. This new knowledge on how barriers to communicating symptoms and seeking help when suffering from PPD vary systematically with attachment orientation can help formulate individualized, and therefore more efficient, approaches to addressing non-help-seeking behavior in women who suffer in silence.

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Romantic relationships in adults with ADHD: The effect of partner attachment style on relationship quality

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships ◽

10.1177/0265407520953898 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 38 (1) ◽

pp. 42-64

Author(s):

Katherine Knies ◽

Elizabeth A. Bodalski ◽

Kate Flory

Keyword(s):

Romantic Relationships ◽

Relationship Quality ◽

Attachment Style ◽

Attachment Styles ◽

Romantic Relationship ◽

Insecure Attachment ◽

Adhd Symptoms ◽

Anxious Attachment ◽

Avoidant Attachment ◽

Romantic Relationship Quality

Prior literature indicates that insecure attachment styles (i.e., anxious or avoidant) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) both have negative impacts on romantic relationships, but relatively little is known about how these factors interact among couples where one partner has ADHD and the other does not. One hundred and fifty-nine partners of adults with significant ADHD symptoms completed measures of their own attachment styles, their partner’s ADHD symptoms, and relationship quality. Anxious attachment was associated with lower romantic relationship quality, but avoidant attachment was associated with more positive relationship outcomes. Results also indicated that the negative effect of ADHD symptoms on romantic relationship quality may be exacerbated by a partner’s high level of anxious attachment. Though insecure attachment styles are generally thought to have a negative impact on romantic relationships, avoidant attachment was generally associated with more positive outcomes in this study. Several possible explanations based on theoretical support are included in the discussion along with clinical applications and future directions.

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Self-Determination Theory Perspective on Attachment, Need Satisfaction, and Well-Being in a Sample of Athletes: A Longitudinal Study

Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology ◽

10.1123/jcsp.2016-0013 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 304-323 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Luke Felton ◽

Sophia Jowett

Keyword(s):

Attachment Style ◽

Attachment Styles ◽

Well Being ◽

Need Satisfaction ◽

Insecure Attachment ◽

Relational Context ◽

Psychological Need ◽

Avoidant Attachment ◽

Mean Differences ◽

Relational Contexts

The current study aimed to examine whether (a) mean differences and changes in athletes’ attachment style predicted psychological need satisfaction within two diverse relational contexts (coach and parent) and well-being, and (b) mean differences and changes in need satisfaction within the two relational contexts predicted well-being. One hundred and ten athletes aged between 15 and 32 years old completed a multisection questionnaire at three time points over a span of 6 months to assess the main study variables. Multilevel modeling revealed that insecure attachment styles (anxious and avoidant) predicted well-being outcomes at the within- and between-person levels. Avoidant attachment predicted need satisfaction within the parent relational context at both levels, and need satisfaction within the coach relational context at the between-person level. Need satisfaction within both relational contexts predicted various well-being outcomes at the between-person level, while need satisfaction within the parent relational context predicted vitality at the within-person level.

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Improved Attachment Style for Female Veterans Who Graduated Warrior Renew Sexual Trauma Treatment

Violence and Victims ◽

10.1891/0886-6708.vv-d-14-00182 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 31 (4) ◽

pp. 680-691 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Lori S. Katz ◽

Sam E. Park ◽

Geta Cojucar ◽

Cristi Huffman ◽

Sarah Douglas

Keyword(s):

Interpersonal Relationships ◽

Attachment Style ◽

Sexual Trauma ◽

Brief Symptom Inventory ◽

Insecure Attachment ◽

Trauma Treatment ◽

Female Veterans ◽

Working Models ◽

Internal Working

The Warrior Renew sexual trauma treatment program proposes to target perceived attachment style and the internal working models of interpersonal relationships. This study examined scores on the Relationships Scales Questionnaire and Brief Symptom Inventory pre- and posttreatment in a sample of 62 female veterans who graduated the program. Findings revealed that graduates of Warrior Renew reported significant decreases in fearful and dismissive insecure attachment and significant increases in secure attachment. Scores were significantly correlated with symptoms. Findings lend support to an upward spiral hypothesis associated with long-term positive outcomes found in previous research on Warrior Renew.

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Attachment insecurity and restrictive engulfment in college student relationships: the mediating role of relationship satisfaction

Journal of Aggression Conflict and Peace Research ◽

10.1108/jacpr-11-2017-0333 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

pp. 24-37 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Ezgi Toplu-Demirtaş ◽

Christine Murray ◽

Zeynep Hatipoglu-Sümer

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

College Students ◽

Relationship Satisfaction ◽

Attachment Style ◽

Insecure Attachment ◽

Psychological Aggression ◽

Dating Relationships ◽

Content Type ◽

Avoidant Attachment ◽

Controlling Behaviors

Purpose Studies on restrictive engulfment (RE) – a subtype of psychological aggression in intimate relationships – have focused either on insecure attachment or relationship satisfaction, not both. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate relationship satisfaction as a potential mediator of the associations between anxious and avoidant attachment and RE perpetration among college students. Design/methodology/approach A sample of 322 college students (178 women, 137 men, and seven other gender-identified) completed the experiences in close relationship inventory, relationship assessment scale, and RE subscale of the multidimensional measure of emotional abuse. Findings Among the sample, 89.3 and 90.5 percent of the college women and men, respectively, reported to have used isolating, restricting, monitoring, and controlling behaviors. The results of structural equation modeling revealed that all direct paths except for that from avoidant attachment to RE were significant. Moreover, significant indirect paths were identified from anxious and avoidant attachment to RE via relationship satisfaction. Research limitations/implications The results of this study should be interpreted with consideration of the study’s limitations. First, the data were drawn from a convenience sample of Turkish college students. Second, the design of the study is correlational; therefore, we cannot assume causality. Finally, this study utilized self-report and retrospective data. Practical implications Though the findings are preliminary, they may inform college counselors and other mental health practitioners about the nature of RE within college students’ dating relationships. College students who are unhappy with their dating relationships but still in those relationships (i.e. they choose not to leave) should be assessed for whether they are the perpetrators and/or recipients of psychological aggression, especially in light of the high rates of this form of aggression in the current and previous studies. Furthermore, assessing psychological dating aggression perpetrators for insecure attachment styles may help mental health professionals who work with college students, envisage the sessions toward areas in the need of improvement, such as their views of themselves and others. Self-esteem, feelings of insecurity and inadequacy in relationships, and dependency can be worked with these clients. Social implications The results of this study also have implications for the prevention of psychological aggression before it occurs. The need for prevention programs is evident in the high rates of psychologically controlling behaviors among college students. It may be useful to implement campus wide programs to raise awareness regarding psychological aggression, such as through events, seminars, posters, flyers, and talks with student groups. Originality/value Despite the limitations of this study, its findings offer insight into the factors that influence the perpetration of psychological aggression within dating relationships among college students. Adult attachment theory offers a useful lens for understanding the possible driving forces behind college students’ controlling behaviors toward their dating partners. In particular, college students who demonstrate an insecure attachment style – and especially an anxious attachment style – combined with low levels of relationship satisfaction appear to be at a high risk for perpetrating RE behaviors.

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Influences of Attachment Style, Family Functions and Gender Differences on Loneliness in Japanese University Students

Psychology ◽

10.4236/psych.2017.84042 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 08 (04) ◽

pp. 654-662 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Akihito Fujimori ◽

Hideki Hayashi ◽

Yoji Fujiwara ◽

Taisuke Matsusaka

Keyword(s):

Gender Differences ◽

University Students ◽

Attachment Style ◽

Japanese University ◽

And Gender

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

Journal of Educational and Psychological Studies [JEPS] ◽

10.24200/jeps.vol10iss4pp36-52 ◽

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.

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Interparental conflict and relational attitudes within romantic relationships: The mediating role of attachment orientations

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships ◽

10.1177/02654075211061617 ◽

2022 ◽

pp. 026540752110616

Author(s):

Rami Tolmacz ◽

Rachel Bachner-Melman ◽

Lilac Lev-Ari ◽

Karen Almagor

Keyword(s):

Romantic Relationships ◽

Attachment Style ◽

Attachment Styles ◽

Interparental Conflict ◽

Structural Equations ◽

Insecure Attachment ◽

Couple Relationships ◽

Anxious Attachment ◽

Attachment Orientations ◽

Avoidant Attachment

Early experiences and childhood perceptions of interparental conflict (IPC) have consistently been shown to have detrimental consequences for future psychological adjustment, in particular for attachment and couple relationships during adolescence and adulthood. We hypothesized that 1. IPC would predict anxious and avoidant attachment styles, and three relational attitudes associated with couple relationships: sense of relational entitlement, pathological concern, and authenticity; and 2. Attachment style would mediate the associations between IPC and these three relational attitudes. Measures of perceived IPC, attachment orientations, relational entitlement, pathological concern, and authenticity in romantic relationships were completed online by 280 young adults aged 19–32. IPC was positively correlated with anxious and avoidant attachment styles, restricted and inflated sense of entitlement, and pathological concern and negatively with authenticity. A structural equations model showed that IPC predicted avoidant and anxious attachment styles, which positively predicted an inflated and restricted sense of relational entitlement and pathological concern and negatively predicted authenticity. Attachment styles fully mediated the relationships between IPC and the relational attitudes. IPC therefore seems to be related to imbalanced attitudes in romantic relationships, due in part to a propensity toward insecure attachment orientations. Children with insecure attachment who are exposed to significant levels of IPC may be at high risk for relationship problems later in life because of difficulties exposing their vulnerability, assessing need fulfillment realistically, and caring for themselves as well as others. They should therefore be helped to communicate their relational needs to significant others, in particular to their partners.

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