Attachment insecurity and inducing guilt to produce desired change in romantic partners

SHANUKI D. JAYAMAHA; CHRISTIAN ANTONELLIS; NICKOLA C. OVERALL

doi:10.1111/pere.12128

Attachment insecurity, biased perceptions of romantic partners’ negative emotions, and hostile relationship behavior.

Journal of Personality and Social Psychology ◽

10.1037/a0038987 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 108 (5) ◽

pp. 730-749 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

Nickola C. Overall ◽

Garth J. O. Fletcher ◽

Jeffry A. Simpson ◽

Jennifer Fillo

Keyword(s):

Negative Emotions ◽

Romantic Partners ◽

Attachment Insecurity

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Being in the Moment So You Can Keep Moving Forward: Mindfulness and Rumination Mediate the Relationship between Attachment Orientations and Negative Conflict Styles

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17186472 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (18) ◽

pp. 6472

Author(s):

Rachael E. Quickert ◽

Tara K. MacDonald

Keyword(s):

Experiential Avoidance ◽

Online Survey ◽

Romantic Partners ◽

Attachment Anxiety ◽

Conflict Behavior ◽

Present Moment ◽

Attachment Insecurity ◽

Problem Solving Skills ◽

Attachment Orientations ◽

The Relationship

Attachment insecurity has been associated with negative behaviors during conflict and decreased relationship satisfaction. We theorize that individuals high in attachment anxiety and/or avoidance are less mindful during conflict with their romantic partners, and thus more likely to ruminate. Decreased mindfulness and higher levels of rumination may be important mechanisms in the relationship between attachment insecurity and conflict behavior, as it may be more difficult to engage in constructive problem-solving skills when one is distracted from the present moment. We conducted an online survey assessing 360 participants’ attachment orientations, levels of mindfulness and rumination, behavior during conflict, and experience with mindfulness activities. Using a serial mediation model, we found that mindfulness and rumination mediated the relationship between attachment insecurity and negative conflict behaviors. We further discovered that individuals high in attachment insecurity were more likely to report negative experiences with mindfulness activities (i.e., meditation and yoga), and that this relationship was mediated by higher levels of experiential avoidance, or a fear of engaging with one’s own thoughts and feelings. We discuss the importance of increasing mindfulness and decreasing both rumination and experiential avoidance to assist individuals high in attachment insecurity in navigating relationship conflict using more constructive and relationship-promoting strategies.

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An Initial Investigation of Suicide Attempt Disclosures Among US Veterans

Crisis ◽

10.1027/0227-5910/a000727 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-7

Author(s):

Brooke A. Ammerman ◽

Sarah P. Carter ◽

Heather M. Gebhardt ◽

Jonathan Buchholz ◽

Mark A. Reger

Keyword(s):

Suicide Attempt ◽

Mental Health Professionals ◽

Help Seeking ◽

Psychiatric Treatment ◽

Small Sample Size ◽

Romantic Partners ◽

Small Sample ◽

Professional Care ◽

Patient Disclosure ◽

Previous Suicide Attempt

Abstract. Background: Patient disclosure of prior suicidal behaviors is critical for effectively managing suicide risk; however, many attempts go undisclosed. Aims: The current study explored how responses following a suicide attempt disclosure may relate to help-seeking outcomes. Method: Participants included 37 veterans with a previous suicide attempt receiving inpatient psychiatric treatment. Veterans reported on their most and least helpful experiences disclosing their suicide attempt to others. Results: Veterans disclosed their suicide attempt to approximately eight individuals. Mental health professionals were the most cited recipient of their most helpful disclosure; romantic partners were the most common recipient of their least helpful disclosures. Positive reactions within the context of the least helpful disclosure experience were positively associated with a sense of connection with the disclosure recipient. Positive reactions within the most helpful disclosure experience were positively associated with the likelihood of future disclosure. No reactions were associated with having sought professional care or likelihood of seeking professional care. Limitations: The results are considered preliminary due to the small sample size. Conclusion: Findings suggest that while positive reactions may influence suicide attempt disclosure experiences broadly, additional research is needed to clarify factors that drive the decision to disclose a suicide attempt to a professional.

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