Underlying Role of Rumination-Mediated Attachment Style Plays In PTSD After TIA And Stroke

Objective: Attachment and rumination was examined as intermediary variable on post-traumatic stress disorder and medication compliance in stroke or TIA patients.Methods: 300 participants with stroke or TIA form The Second Hospital of Hebei Province were selected. Patients accomplished NIHSS, ABCD2, ECR, RSQ and RRS on admission. After 3 months the PCL-C and MMAS were collected.Results: In this stroke or TIA patients, the incident of PTSD was 7.7%; PTSD scores were significantly associated with attachment anxiety (r= 0.225，p<0.01), symptom rumination (r= 0.197, p<0.01), and obsessive thinking (r=0.187, p<0.01).After Sobel test analysis and verification by Baron and Kenny (1996) 's method, we found that ruminant mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and PTSD; obsessive thinking mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and PTSD.Conclusions: The relationship between attachment anxiety and PTSD was positively predicted by rumination and obsessive thinking. Adult attachment style, rumination and PTSD scores may not predict medication compliance.

Attachment Style Differences in the Affective Experience of Chronic Pain in Osteoarthritis

Objective: To examine the role of adult attachment style in the daily affective experiences of older adults with physician-confirmed knee osteoarthritis (OA). Methods: As part of a larger study of racial/ethnic differences in everyday quality of life with OA, 292 persons over the age of 50 completed a baseline interview including the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS; Collins, 1996). Dimensional RAAS attachment scores were coded into the secure, preoccupied, fearful, and dismissing groups (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991). Positive affect (PA), negative affect (NA), and pain were assessed using an experience sampling methodology consisting of 4 daily phone calls over 7 days. These analyses used ANCOVAs to examine 28-call means and SDs for PA, NA, and pain. Results: After controlling for demographics, results indicated significant group differences in average PA, NA, and pain. Pairwise comparisons indicated that participants endorsing a stable attachment style reported significantly more PA and less NA than those with a fearful attachment style. Group differences for pain were marginal and less clear cut. Significant differences also emerged for variability of NA and pain. Individuals with a secure attachment style were significantly less variable in NA than those in the fearful and preoccupied groups. For pain variability, the preoccupied group showed more variability than those with secure or dismissive styles. Implications: Results contribute to a growing understanding of how individual attachment style may underlie the day-to-day affective experience of chronic pain. (Supported by R01-AG041655, D. Smith and P. Parmelee, PIs.)

Predictors of acculturation attitude of international students in China

This study investigates international students’ acculturation attitude preference and the influence factors (i.e., gender, duration in China, host and English proficiency, adult attachment style and social ties) on each acculturation attitude (i.e, integration, assimilation, separation and marginalization attitude) in China. A group of 229 international students within China responded online. Results from cluster analysis based on process model of acculturation revealed that, integration was the most prevalent acculturation attitude of international students in China. Additionally, logistic regressions analysis indicated that duration in China was negatively associated with adoption of separation and marginalization attitude also higher level of English proficiency predicted the preference of marginalization attitude. However, Chinese proficiency was positively associated with integration attitude adoption, host ties were positively and significantly associated with adoption of assimilation and integration attitude, but negatively associated with the usage of marginalization attitude. Lastly, avoidance attachment was found negatively associating with the integration attitude. This study provides valuable insights for international student education policymakers to assist international students in order to adapt to a new environment quickly and effectively.

The Influence of Family Structure and Adult Attachment Style on Theft Behaviors in Men: a Case-Control Study

Background: Theft has leaded to significant costs to commerce and legal system, but its psychological mechanisms and risk factors are barely explored. This study aims to investigate the influence of family structure and adult attachment style on theft behaviors in men. Methods: 257 men with a conviction for theft (theft group) and 405 male college students (control group) were interviewed with Experiences in Close Relationships Scale and a general questionnaire about socio-demographic information, family structure and criminal records. Results: Compared with control group, long-term residency, family economic situation, number of siblings, father’s presence before 5 years old, parents’ state of existence and parents’ marital status of theft group were significantly different (P<0.05). Living in urban area, from relatively poor family, not living with father before 5 years old and parents not divorced increased the likelihood of theft in men (P<0.05). While father not alive and having no siblings decreased the likelihood of theft in men (P<0.05). Then theft group was further divided into first offender group and recidivist group. First offender group had a significantly higher proportion of living with mother/father before 5 years old and father alive than recidivist group (P<0.05). Not living with mother before 5 years old and father not alive increased the possibility of multiple thefts, while preoccupied attachment decreased such possibility (P<0.05). Conclusions: This study suggested that risk factors for theft and multiple thefts were different. A variety of targeted strategies related to family structure and attachment styles are needed to prevent theft from occurring and reoccurring.

Personal Agency in Borderline Personality Disorder: The Impact of Adult Attachment Style

BackgroundPersonal agency- the degree to which one believes they have control over their life- is thought to influence how people understand their interpersonal relationships. Links between adult attachment and personal agency are theoretically relevant to the experience of borderline personality disorder (BPD) but this has yet to be empirically examined. The present research examines the impact of personal agency and adult attachment styles for individuals meeting criteria for BPD.MethodsParticipants consented to an online community study examining measures of locus of control (as an index of personal agency), BPD, and adult attachment. Participants meeting criteria for BPD (N = 96; mean age = 30.63; 70.5% female) were compared to age-matched healthy controls (N = 96; mean age = M = 31.99; 89.0% female).ResultsIndividuals who met criteria for BPD displayed lower personal agency and higher fearful and preoccupied attachment styles in their close relationships, compared to Controls. Controls reported greater personal agency and were more securely attached in their relationships. Using multiple mediation modeling, the indirect effect of personal agency on BPD was significant for preoccupied, fearful, and secure attachment, but was non-significant for dismissive attachment. Lower personal agency was associated with insecure adult attachment styles.ConclusionsFindings highlight the previously unexplored relationship between BPD and personal agency and indicate that adult attachment style plays a significant role. Low personal agency may increase challenges for individuals with symptoms of BPD by exacerbating relationship difficulties. People in treatment for BPD may benefit from focusing on both relationship insecurity and its impact on their perceived personal control.