scholarly journals COVID-19 Related Traumatic Distress in Psychotherapy Patients during the Pandemic: The Role of Attachment, Working Alliance, and Therapeutic Agency

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (10) ◽  
pp. 1288
Author(s):  
Katie Aafjes-van Doorn ◽  
Vera Békés ◽  
Xiaochen Luo
Keyword(s):  
Working Alliance ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Online Therapy ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Online Psychotherapy ◽  
Collaborative Therapy ◽  
Traumatic Distress ◽  
Different Levels

The early months of the COVID-19 pandemic have been a challenging time for many psychotherapy patients. To understand why certain patients were more resilient, we examined the role of patients’ attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance, as well as collaborative therapy experiences (perceived working alliance and therapeutic agency) in their online sessions on their COVID-related traumatic distress over a three-month period. A total of 466 patients in online psychotherapy completed a survey during the first weeks of the pandemic, and 121 of those completed a follow-up survey three months later. Lower distress at follow-up was predicted by patients’ lower attachment anxiety and higher therapeutic agency in their online sessions after controlling for baseline distress and time of survey completion. Higher working alliance predicted less distress at follow-up only for patients with high attachment anxiety. For patients with low attachment avoidance (i.e., more securely attached), higher therapeutic agency predicted less distress. These findings suggest that patients’ attachment anxiety and therapeutic agency may play significant roles also in online therapy during COVID-19 in patient’s experienced traumatic distress, and that working alliance and therapeutic agency may be differentially important for patients with different levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance.

scholarly journals Adult attachment and relationship satisfaction: The mediating role of gratitude toward the partner

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 3875-3886 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manja Vollmann ◽  
Sem Sprang ◽  
Femke van den Brink
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Couples Therapy ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Cross Sectional Design

Previous research indicated that insecure attachment, that is, higher levels of attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety, is negatively associated with relationship satisfaction. The present study investigated the mediating role of gratitude toward the partner in this association. In a cross-sectional design, 362 participants (84% female, age range 18–70 years) involved in a romantic relationship completed an online questionnaire assessing attachment avoidance and anxiety, gratitude toward the partner, and relationship satisfaction. Data were analyzed by means of regression and bootstrap analyses. The regression analysis revealed significant negative total and direct effects of both avoidance and anxiety on relationship satisfaction. The bootstrap analyses revealed a significant negative indirect effect of avoidance, but not anxiety, on relationship satisfaction via gratitude toward the partner. Specifically, higher levels of avoidant attachment were related to less gratitude toward the partner, which in turn was associated with lower relationship satisfaction. These findings suggest that it might be valuable applying gratitude interventions to clients high in attachment avoidance attending couples therapy.

Romantic attachment and mate retention behavior: The mediating role of perceived risk of partner infidelity

2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 940-956 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole Barbaro ◽  
Yael Sela ◽  
Mohammad Atari ◽  
Todd K. Shackelford ◽  
Virgil Zeigler-Hill
Keyword(s):  
Perceived Risk ◽  
Romantic Attachment ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Psychological Perspective ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Mate Retention ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Attachment Dimensions ◽  
Retention Study

Previous research indicates that the romantic attachment dimensions of anxiety and avoidance are associated with performance frequency of Benefit-Provisioning and Cost-Inflicting domains of mate retention. The current research aimed to replicate previous findings in a non-Western sample (Iran, Study 1) and to extend this research by investigating the mediating role of perceived risk of partner infidelity (Study 2). Studies 1 and 2 tested the hypotheses that attachment anxiety is positively associated with mate retention and that attachment avoidance is negatively associated with mate retention. Study 2 tested the hypothesis perceived risk of partner infidelity mediate the association between attachment dimensions and mate retention domains. Results of Studies 1 and 2 replicated previous research and also revealed that perceived risk of partner infidelity mediated the association between attachment anxiety, specifically, and mate retention. The current research advances our understanding of romantic attachment from an evolutionary psychological perspective.

scholarly journals Examining the association between explicit and implicit attachment and the outcomes of acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for depression

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline G.L. A-Tjak ◽  
Nexhmedin Morina ◽  
Wouter J. Boendermaker ◽  
Maurice Topper ◽  
Paul M.G. Emmelkamp
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Outcome ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment

Abstract Background Attachment theory predicts that patients who are not securely attached may benefit less from psychological treatment. However, evidence on the predictive role of attachment in the effectiveness of treatment for depression is limited.Methods Explicit attachment styles, levels of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance, as well as implicit relational self-esteem and implicit relational anxiety were assessed in 67 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) receiving Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). ANOVA and hierarchical regression analyses were performed to investigate the predictive power of explicit and implicit attachment measures on treatment outcome.Results Explicit attachment avoidance at pre-treatment significantly predicted reduction of depressive symptoms following treatment. Reductions in attachment anxiety and avoidance from pre- to post-treatment predicted better treatment outcomes. Neither one of the implicit measures, nor change in these measures from pre- tot post-treatment significantly predicted treatment outcome. Limitations The sample size is likely to limit the power to detect small effects. Conclusions Our findings show that attachment avoidance as well as reductions in avoidant and anxious attachment predict symptom reduction after psychological treatment for depression. Future research should use larger sample sizes to further examine the role of attachment orientation as moderator and mediator of treatment outcome. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01517503

scholarly journals Attachment and alexithymia are related, but mind-mindedness does not mediate this relationship

2015 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Szpak ◽  
Marta Białecka-Pikul
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Tas 20

Abstract The main aim of the study was to check: (a) attachment-related differences in alexithymia and (b) the mediating role of mind-mindedness in attachment-alexithymia relationship. Method: Attachment (PAM; Berry et al., 2007), alexithymia (TAS-20; Bagby, Taylor, & Parker, 1994) and mind-mindedness (“describe your friend” method; Meins et al, 2008) were measured in the sample of 128 Polish undergraduates. Results: Positive associations were seen between attachment anxiety and overall alexithymia scores and difficulty identifying emotions. Attachment avoidance was positively associated with overall alexithymia score, difficulty describing feelings and externally oriented thinking. Mind-mindedness was not related to neither attachment or alexithymia. Conclusion: There are attachment-related differences in alexithymia, but mind-mindedness seems not to mediate attachment-alexithymia relationship.

Attachment orientations and sleep patterns: The moderating role of exchanges with spouse

2019 ◽  
Vol 37 (4) ◽  
pp. 1282-1295
Author(s):  
Nurit Gur-Yaish ◽  
Dina Cohen ◽  
Tamar Shochat
Keyword(s):  
Mixed Model ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Moderating Effects ◽  
Sleep Patterns ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Opposite Pattern ◽  
Attachment Orientations ◽  
Low Levels ◽  
Theory Framework

The objective of the study was to investigate habitual nightly sleep patterns in the context of daily accounts of relationships with bed partners utilizing the attachment theory framework. Negative exchanges with a spouse are stressful and presumably activate the attachment system. This will differently affect individuals with high and low levels of attachment avoidance and anxiety orientations, affecting their sleep patterns. Seventy-seven teachers in committed romantic relationships (mean age = 42.53 years, 89.3% married) participated. They first completed the Experience in Close Relationships–Revised instrument, indicating their attachment avoidance and anxiety orientations, and then participated in a 4-day diary study, reporting daily levels of negative exchanges with a spouse. They also wore an actigraph (activity monitor) during the nighttime to assess their sleep patterns. Mixed-model analyses revealed that respondents high in attachment avoidance had later bedtimes and shorter sleep duration following days high in negative behavioral exchanges with their spouses. In addition, respondents high in attachment avoidance had longer sleep latency and more waking episodes during the night, regardless of levels of negative exchanges. Individuals high in attachment anxiety had more waking episodes during the night after negative emotional exchanges with a spouse; the opposite pattern emerged for individuals low in attachment anxiety. Findings demonstrate the relevance of attachment orientations and the moderating effects of negative exchanges with a spouse on sleep patterns.

Attachment and Severity of Grief: The Mediating Role of Negative Appraisal and Inflexible Coping

2013 ◽  
Vol 67 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emily Delespaux ◽  
Anne-Sophie Ryckebosch-Dayez ◽  
Alexandre Heeren ◽  
Emmanuelle Zech
Keyword(s):  
Process Model ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Dual Process ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Mediating Role ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
Negative Appraisal ◽  
Oscillation Process ◽  
Grief Reactions

According to the Dual Process Model of coping with bereavement (DPM; Stroebe & Schut, 1999), adjustment to bereavement involves a flexible oscillation between two types of coping strategies: loss-oriented (LO) and restoration-oriented (RO). This model postulates that extremely anxious or avoidant attachment disturbs the oscillation process by focusing more on one type of strategy, either LO or RO. The present study examined this assumption. We recruited 321 bereaved individuals who had lost a romantic partner. Our results showed that less negative appraisal of bereavement-related stressors, as well as higher use of RO strategies, mediated the link between attachment avoidance and low severity of grief reactions. However, the DPM variables were not found to mediate the link between attachment anxiety and elevated grief reactions. We discuss how these results provide an empirical basis of the DPM.

Today You Care, Tomorrow You Don’t: Differential Roles of Responsiveness Variability and Average Responsiveness in Romantic Attachment

2020 ◽  
pp. 194855062094411
Author(s):  
Gul Gunaydin ◽  
Emre Selcuk ◽  
Betul Urganci ◽  
Sumeyra Yalcintas
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Attachment ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Romantic Couples ◽  
Perceived Responsiveness ◽  
Specific Attachment ◽  
Perceived Partner Responsiveness ◽  
Relational Outcomes ◽  
Partner Responsiveness

Past work has shown that perceived responsiveness is a key predictor of relational outcomes. However, this work has focused solely on average levels of responsiveness and never studied the role of responsiveness variability (consistency of responsiveness) in intimate relationships. The present study addressed this gap by investigating the long-held but scarcely tested tenet that responsiveness variability and average responsiveness play differential roles in romantic attachment. New romantic couples ( N = 151) reported partner-specific attachment anxiety and avoidance in six sessions. Every evening during the 3-week period in between the first two sessions, participants reported perceived partner responsiveness, allowing us to assess both average responsiveness and responsiveness variability. Our findings provided the first empirical evidence that responsiveness variability uniquely predicted increases in partner-specific attachment anxiety, whereas average responsiveness uniquely predicted decreases in partner-specific attachment avoidance. Average responsiveness and responsiveness variability continued to predict attachment orientations assessed about half a year later.

scholarly journals Explicit and implicit attachment and the outcomes of acceptance and commitment therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy for depression

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jacqueline G.L. A-Tjak ◽  
Nexhmedin Morina ◽  
Wouter J. Boendermaker ◽  
Maurice Topper ◽  
Paul M.G. Emmelkamp
Keyword(s):  
Treatment Outcome ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment Therapy ◽  
Psychological Treatment ◽  
Behavioral Therapy ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Cognitive Behavioral ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Acceptance And Commitment

Abstract Background Attachment theory predicts that patients who are not securely attached may benefit less from psychological treatment. However, evidence on the predictive role of attachment in the effectiveness of treatment for depression is limited.Methods Explicit attachment styles, levels of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance, as well as implicit relational self-esteem and implicit relational anxiety were assessed in 67 patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) receiving Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). ANOVA and hierarchical regression analyses were performed to investigate the predictive power of explicit and implicit attachment measures on treatment outcome.Results Explicit attachment avoidance at pre-treatment significantly predicted reduction of depressive symptoms following treatment. Reductions in attachment anxiety and avoidance from pre- to post-treatment predicted better treatment outcomes. Neither one of the implicit measures, nor change in these measures from pre- tot post-treatment significantly predicted treatment outcome. Conclusions Our findings show that attachment avoidance as well as reductions in avoidant and anxious attachment predict symptom reduction after psychological treatment for depression. Future research should use larger sample sizes to further examine the role of attachment orientation as moderator and mediator of treatment outcome. Trial registration clinicaltrials.gov; NCT01517503

Distinguishing Dismissing From Fearful Attachment in the Association Between Closeness and Commitment

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 563-572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yoobin Park ◽  
Anik Debrot ◽  
Stephanie S. Spielmann ◽  
Samantha Joel ◽  
Emily Impett ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Positive Association ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
The Self ◽  
Relationship Functioning ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Internal Conflicts ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Attachment Dimensions

When avoidantly attached individuals are simultaneously high in attachment anxiety, they are inclined to experience strong internal conflicts between seeking and avoiding closeness. This research examined whether the extent to which closeness, assessed as the inclusion of other in the self (IOS), is associated with greater commitment varies within individuals high in attachment avoidance as a result of differences in ambivalence toward maintaining the relationship. In two studies ( N1 = 1,604, N2 = 2,271), we found that the positive association between IOS and commitment was significantly weaker when attachment avoidance was combined with high (vs. low) attachment anxiety. In Study 2, we found lingering relational ambivalence even at high levels of IOS among individuals simultaneously high in attachment avoidance and anxiety, which in turn was related to relatively low commitment. Our findings highlight the role of relational ambivalence in avoidants’ relationship functioning and the need to examine the interplay of the two attachment dimensions.

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