scholarly journals A biopsychosocial approach of the expectant mother

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Χριστίνα Παπαπέτρου
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Expectant Mother ◽  
Biopsychosocial Approach

Η παρούσα διατριβή έχει ως στόχο να παρατηρήσει και να περιγράψει την επίδραση των διαφορετικών υποτύπων της ψυχολογικής παραμέτρου της «θεωρίας δεσμού» (attachment theory – attachment styles) στις εκφάνσεις του αναφερόμενου αλλά και βιολογικά προσδιοριζόμενου στρες που αφορά τον πληθυσμό της ευαίσθητης ομάδας των νέων μητέρων και λεχωίδων, με σημείο αναφοράς το συμβάν του τοκετού, ένα φυσιολογικά σημαντικό και στρεσσογόνο γεγονός ζωής.Κατά την κλινική πράξη και στον τομέα της μαιευτικής-γυναικολογίας εν προκειμένω ως το βασικό πλαίσιο παρατήρησης των περιγεννητικών ζητημάτων, μαιευτήρες, ψυχίατροι και ψυχολόγοι συχνά έρχονται αντιμέτωποι με περιστατικά γυναικών που αναφέρουν δυσκολίες ψυχολογικής προσαρμογής, στρες ή την παρουσία ψυχιατρικής συμπτωματολογίας λόγω των αυξημένων απαιτήσεων που η εγκυμοσύνη και η λοχεία επιφέρουν στην καθημερινότητα των γυναικών.Η ερευνητική διαδικασία της παρούσας διατριβής βασίστηκε στη χορήγηση τεσσάρων ψυχομετρικών εργαλείων (ερωτηματολογίων) σε πληθυσμό εγκύων & λεχωίδων (N=105) της Β’ Μαιευτικής – Γυναικολογικής Κλινικής του Αρεταιείου Νοσοκομείου και στην επεξεργασία των αποτελεσμάτων αυτών, καθώς παράλληλα διενεργήθηκε συλλογή και εργαστηριακή μέτρηση βιολογικών δεικτών του στρες (κορτιζόλη σιέλου και α – αμυλάση σιέλου). Κατόπιν ακολούθησε στατιστική ανάλυση όλων των συλλεχθέντων αποτελεσμάτων.Τόσο η εκτενής βιβλιογραφική ανασκόπηση, όσο και τα αποτελέσματα της παρούσας έρευνας έδειξαν πως η παρουσία της γενικής κατηγορίας του «ανασφαλούς τύπου δεσμού» ενδέχεται να συμβάλλει στην ανάδυση βιολογικών ενδείξεων στρες και καταθλιπτικής συμπτωματολογίας, αμέσως μετά τον τοκετό. Παράλληλα παρατηρήθηκε σημαντική στατιστική συσχέτιση μεταξύ της προωρότητας του νεογνού, του ιστορικού προηγούμενων τοκετών, της παρουσίας «ανασφαλούς δεσμού» και των αυξομειώσεων της κορτιζόλης σιέλου στη μητέρα, μεταγεννητικά. Παράλληλα ειδικότερα όσον αφορά την υπο-ομάδα των συμμετεχουσών (N=37) από τις οποίες ελήφθησαν δείγματα τόσο προγεννητικά όσο και μεταγεννητικά, φάνηκε ότι τα επίπεδα κορτιζόλης σιέλου μεταγεννητικά ήταν στατιστικά σημαντικά αυξημένα στην περίπτωση των γυναικών που ανήκουν στον «ανασφαλή τύπο» δεσμού.Η παρουσία «ασφαλούς τύπου δεσμού» που παρατηρείται σε ζευγάρια με δυνατό ποιοτικά δεσμό μεταξύ των δύο συντρόφων, φαίνεται να δρα προστατευτικά απέναντι σε ενδεχόμενες αντιξοότητες, βοηθώντας τις γυναίκες που ανήκουν στην κατηγορία του «ασφαλούς δεσμού» να αντλήσουν από το απόθεμα των συναισθηματικών τους πόρων και του ευρύτερου καλώς έχειν της ψυχικής τους κατάστασης. Συνεπώς είναι αρτιότερα εξοπλισμένες να προετοιμαστούν με αποτελεσματικότερο τρόπο απέναντι στις πιθανές δυσκολίες που η περιγεννητική περίοδος συχνά συνεπάγεται.Σκοπός της παρούσας διατριβής είναι η ενημέρωση των επαγγελματιών περιγεννητικής υγείας και του κοινού αναφορικά με τα αποτελέσματα που προέκυψαν, ώστε να επιτευχθεί η ενίσχυση των παρεχόμενων υπηρεσιών υγείας και να εμπλουτιστούν περαιτέρω οι ιατρικές και ψυχοθεραπευτικές παρεμβάσεις σε πληθυσμούς των εγκύων, των νέων μητέρων αλλά και των οικογενειών τους.

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.

Perceptions of Sex Offenders’ Partners: Associated with Perceptions of Offenders and Influenced by Attachment

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jason P. Martens ◽  
Jessica L. Stewart
Keyword(s):  
Sex Offenders ◽  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Sexual Offenders ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Negative Perceptions ◽  
Highly Correlated

Abstract Little research exists on how partners of sex offenders are perceived. Using attachment theory, we hypothesised that one's attachment would generalise to perceptions of sexual offenders and their partners. One hundred and six British adults’ attachment styles were assessed, as well as perceptions of sex offenders and their partners. Generally, perceivers’ attachment avoidance was associated with positive perceptions of both partners and offenders, while attachment anxiety was associated with negative perceptions of partners but positive perceptions of sex offenders. Perceptions of sex offenders and their partners were highly correlated and negative in nature, and sex offenders were more negatively perceived.

scholarly journals Mental health nurses’ perceptions of attachment style as a construct in a medium secure hospital: a thematic analysis

2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 218-233 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikki Boniwell ◽  
Leanne Etheridge ◽  
Ruth Bagshaw ◽  
Joanne Sullivan ◽  
Andrew Watt
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Thematic Analysis ◽  
Service User ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Personality Development ◽  
Educational Interventions ◽  
Service Users ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Content Type

Purpose – Attachment Theory can be regarded as central to the concept of relational security. There is a paucity of research examining the coherence of this construct for ward-based staff. The paper aims to discuss these issues. Design/methodology/approach – Five female nurses from the acute admission and assessment ward of a UK medium secure unit acted as participants. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, and inductive thematic analysis was applied. Findings – Six themes; “staff-service user relationships”, “staff diversities”, “service user backgrounds”, “variability in service users’ presentations”, “service users with personality disorder are problematic” and “nurses do not use attachment” emerged from the data. The nurses used heuristic models of attachment-related behaviour and they lacked knowledge of constructs associated with Attachment Theory. Research limitations/implications – Acute admissions may not be representative of all treatment contexts. Traditional models of attachment style may have only limited relevance in forensic services. Practical implications – Limited knowledge and confidence in the nurses regarding how Attachment Theory might apply to service users is interesting because it may limit the extent to which care, treatment and risk management might be informed by an understanding of service user representations of therapeutic relationships. Training and educational interventions for nurses that enhance understanding of personality development and attachment styles are warranted. Originality/value – The importance of nurses for achieving relational security is emphasised and the adequacy of their training is questioned.

scholarly journals Measuring attachment and parental bonding in psychosis and its clinical implications

2014 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 142-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Mathews ◽  
J. Onwumere ◽  
S. Bissoli ◽  
M. Ruggeri ◽  
E. Kuipers ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Parental Bonding ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Term Outcome ◽  
Long Term Outcome

Background.Attachment theory proposes that psychological functioning and affect regulations are influenced by the attachment we form with others. Early relationships with parents or caregivers lay the foundations for attachment styles. These styles are proposed to influence how we relate to others during our life can be modified by the relationships and events we experience in our lifespan. A secure attachment style is associated with a capacity to manage distress, comfort with autonomy and the ability to form relationships with others, whereas insecure attachment can lead to dysfunctional relationships, emotional and behaviour avoidance. Attachment theory provides a useful framework to inform our understanding of relationship difficulties in people with psychosis. This paper aims to complement recent systematic reviews by providing an overview of attachment theory, its application to psychosis, including an understanding of measurement issues and the clinical implications offered.Method.A narrative review was completed of the measures of attachment and parental bonding in psychosis. Its clinical implications are also discussed. The paper also explores the link between insecure attachment styles and illness course, social functioning and symptomatology. The following questions are addressed: What are the key attachment measures that have been used within the attachment and psychosis literature? What are the results of studies that have measured attachment or parental bonding in psychosis and what clinical implications can we derive from it? What are some of the key questions for future research from these findings in relation to the onset of psychosis research field?Results.The most commonly used measures of attachment in psychosis research are reviewed. Self-report questionnaires and semi-structured interviews have mainly been used to examine attachment styles in adult samples and in recent years comprise a measure specifically developed for a psychosis group. The review suggests that insecure attachment styles are common in psychosis samples. Key relationships were observed between insecure, avoidant and anxious attachment styles and psychosis development, expression and long-term outcome.Conclusions.Attachment theory can provide a useful framework to facilitate our understanding of interpersonal difficulties in psychosis that may predate its onset and impact on observed variability in outcomes, including treatment engagement. Greater attention should be given to the assessment of attachment needs and to the development of interventions that seek to compensate for these difficulties. However, further investigations are required on specifying the exact mechanisms by which specific attachment styles impact on the development of psychosis and its course.

Introduction to Attachment Theory: Social Contexts and Changeability

2019 ◽  
pp. 43-54
Author(s):  
Chia-Huei Wu
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Social Contexts ◽  
Internal Working Models ◽  
Internal Working ◽  
Children And Parents ◽  
Specific Attachment ◽  
The Stability ◽  
Context Specific

The aim of this chapter is to introduce attachment theory in terms of context-specific attachment styles, and the stability and changeability of attachment style. An attachment relationship exists not only between children and parents, but also in other relationship contexts. Context-specific attachment relationships, such as attachment at work, are more proximal to influence behavior in the specific contexts. This theoretical proposition helps illustrate how relationships in organizations are important to shape employee proactivity. Attachment theory also suggests the changeability of attachment style as individuals’ prototype of attachment style and internal working models of self, others, and the broader social environment can be changed when they encounter different experiences.

scholarly journals An exploration of the experience of trainee integrative psychotherapists on therapeutic alliance in the light of their attachment style

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleni Rizou ◽  
Vaitsa Giannouli
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Therapeutic Relationship ◽  
Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Therapeutic Process ◽  
Structured Interviews ◽  
Therapeutic Orientation ◽  
Trainee Therapists ◽  
The Relationship

Therapeutic Relationship has been regarded as a profound element of the psychotherapeutic procedure and crucial for the outcome of therapy. Research evidence so far claims that both therapist’s and client’s personality can impact the Therapeutic Relationship. Based on the well-researched Attachment Theory there has been some research mostly focused on how clients’ attachment patterns can affect the Alliance. Limited research, though, on how therapists experience the Relationship in relation with their Attachment Styles do exist. The current study investigates trainee therapists’ experience of the Therapeutic Relationship in the light of their Attachment Style. A qualitative approach was used for this research to investigate in depth the experience of five trainee Integrative psychotherapists who were recruited to take part in semi-structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed and verbatim was divided into superordinate and subordinate themes and analyzed by Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis method. Four master themes were identified. Findings were then compared and discussed according to existing literature. All participants referred to the relevance of Attachment Theory in psychotherapy. They also agreed on the activation of their Attachment Styles during the therapeutic process. The securely attached therapist confirms previous studies on her capability to offer a secure base for her clients. On the other hand therapists with insecure Attachment Styles appeared sensitive in their collaboration mostly with insecure clients. Anxiously attached therapists proved to experience difficulty in the initial stages of the Therapeutic Relationship while the combination of avoidant therapist-avoidant client appeared to be the most demanding one, regarding the concept of trust and relationship ruptures. We suggest that the exploration of trainee therapists’ Attachment Styles as well as the study of the Attachment Theory should be added to all Counseling and Psychotherapy curricula regardless the therapeutic orientation because of its contribution to forming positive Therapeutic Relationships.

scholarly journals Matters of the Heart: Grief, Morbidity, and Mortality

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 235-241
Author(s):  
Christopher P. Fagundes ◽  
E. Lydia Wu
Keyword(s):  
Health Risk ◽  
Physical Health ◽  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Elevated Risk ◽  
Morbidity And Mortality ◽  
Multidisciplinary Research ◽  
Spousal Bereavement ◽  
Research Teams ◽  
Biopsychosocial Approach ◽  
Matched Comparison

Spousal bereavement is associated with elevated risk of morbidity and mortality. Several well-regarded multidisciplinary research teams have investigated the biopsychosocial processes underlying why widows and widowers are at elevated physical-health risk. Here, we review research from multiple investigators showing that, on average, widows and widowers exhibit maladaptive patterns of autonomic, neuroendocrine, and immune activity compared with matched comparison subjects. Widows and widowers also exhibit poorer health behaviors than they did before their spouse’s death, and the considerable variation in postloss psychological-adjustment trajectories among widows and widowers likely corresponds to physical-health risk trajectories. Yet there is little biobehavioral research on patterns of change in physical-health risk after the death of a spouse. We summarize recently published work demonstrating how attachment theory can characterize and predict individual differences in physical-health biomarkers, highlighting the need for a biopsychosocial approach to understanding and characterizing postloss trajectory patterns. We conclude by discussing the possibility that this line of inquiry could help researchers, and ultimately providers, identify adjustment trajectories earlier and thus deliver appropriate interventions when they are most needed.

From Middle Childhood to Adulthood Attachment

2018 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 444-454
Author(s):  
Marshina Juliza Mohd Hasim ◽  
Hasrina Mustafa ◽  
Nor Hazlina Hashim
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Middle Childhood ◽  
Adult Attachment ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Romantic Attachment ◽  
Past Research ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Conclusive Evidence ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
The Stability

Attachment theory argues that attachment styles developed during infancy and childhood will be relatively enduring and continue during adulthood. While research on adult attachment has been mounting in the past, less is known on the enduring effect of attachment styles with mother, father, and their peer or peers during childhood on adult romantic attachment styles. Past research in fact have obtained mixed findings on the stability of attachment styles from childhood to adulthood, especially in the context of Malaysian setting. In order to explore the stability of attachment styles from childhood to adulthood, a survey among 400 married individuals was conducted and partial least squares was employed for data analysis. The application of attachment theory in this study was established via two dimensions of anxiety and avoidance. The result indicated that respondents who exhibited high levels of anxiety and high levels of avoidance with mother, father, and their peers would display the same attachment styles with their romantic partners or spouses during adulthood. The findings provide conclusive evidence on the continuity and stability of attachment styles with stronger and enduring bonds observed for peer-adult attachment.

Attachment in Coping with Bereavement: A Theoretical Integration

2005 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret Stroebe ◽  
Henk Schut ◽  
Wolfgang Stroebe
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Coping Styles ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Dual Process ◽  
Continuing Bonds ◽  
Dual Process Model ◽  
Cognitive Stress

Researchers have deplored shortcomings in theoretically based models of coping with bereavement. Integration of cognitive stress with attachment theory is proposed to predict adjustment to bereavement, describe different forms of effective coping, and resolve ongoing debates about continuing versus relinquishing bonds. These 2 generic approaches are integrated within a bereavement-specific perspective, the dual-process model of coping ( Stroebe & Schut, 1999 ). Accordingly, (a) different coping styles are adopted by, and are differentially efficacious for, bereaved people according to their style of attachment; (b) bereaved people's ways of continuing bonds differ according to their attachment style; and (c) grief complications are associated with insecure attachment styles. The authors conclude that it is better for some bereaved individuals to work toward retaining ties and for others to work toward loosening ties.

scholarly journals Investigating the Interpersonal Dynamics Between Coaches and Athletes Based on Fundamental Principles of Attachment

2010 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 112-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Louise Davis ◽  
Sophia Jowett
Keyword(s):  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Attachment Theory ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Secure Base ◽  
Interpersonal Dynamics ◽  
Attachment Figure ◽  
As Relationship ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Associated Data

Grounded in Bowlby’s (1969/1982, 1988) attachment theory, this study aimed to explore (a) the pervasiveness of the three main functions of attachment within the context of the coach-athlete relationship, (b) the associations of athletes’ attachment styles with such important variables as satisfaction with the relationship and satisfaction with the sport, and (c) the process by which athletes’ attachment styles and satisfaction with sport are associated. Data were collected through self-report measures of attachment functions and styles as well as relationship satisfaction and sport satisfaction from 309 student athletes (males = 150, females = 159) whose age ranged from 18 to 28 years (Mage = 19.9, SD = 1.58 years). Athletes’ mean scores indicated that the coach was viewed as an attachment figure fulfilling all three functions of secure base, safe haven, and proximity maintenance. Bivariate correlations indicated that athletes’ avoidant and anxious styles of attachment with the coach were negatively correlated with both relationship satisfaction and sport satisfaction. Mediational regression analysis revealed that athletes’ satisfaction with the coach-athlete relationship may be a process that links athletes’ attachment styles with levels of satisfaction with sport. The findings from this study highlight the potential theoretical and practical utility of attachment theory in studying relationships within the sport context.

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