Attachment, Social Support, and Responses following the Death of a Companion Animal

2012 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loren C. King ◽  
Paul D. Werner
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Psychosocial Functioning ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Animal Companionship ◽  
Grief Responses ◽  
Multidimensional Health

This research tested hypotheses concerning attachment, social support, and grief responses to the loss of animal companionship. Participants whose companion cat or dog had recently died ( N = 429) completed the Attachment Style Questionnaire, the Inventory of Complicated Grief, and the Multidimensional Health Profile-Psychosocial Functioning questionnaires. Both attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were found to be positively associated with respondents' grief, depression, anxiety, and somatic symptoms. Social support was found to be negatively associated with these outcomes as well as with attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. In multiple regression analyses, attachment anxiety incrementally predicted grief, anxiety and somatic symptoms, attachment avoidance incrementally predicted grief and depression, and social support incrementally predicted all outcomes. Interaction effects of attachment and social support in relation to outcomes were not found. The present study's implications and limitations are discussed, as are directions for future research.

Latinx College Students: How Schemas and Attachments Impact Depression and Relationship Satisfaction

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (2) ◽  
pp. 248-263
Author(s):  
Adrian Rodriguez ◽  
Paul Ratanasiripong ◽  
Kimberly Hardaway ◽  
Leslie Barron ◽  
Shiho Toyama
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Relationship Satisfaction ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Early Maladaptive Schemas ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Anxious Attachment ◽  
Schema Questionnaire

Latinx college students face challenges regarding depression. The relationships between early maladaptive schemas (EMS) and attachment style on depression and relationship satisfaction were investigated among 236 Latinx college student participants. The Young Schema Questionnaire–Short Form (YSQ-S3) total score was utilized to identify overall schema. Significant correlations were found. Overall schema, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and depression were all positively correlated, while attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and depression were negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction. In multiple regression analyses, Model 1, overall schema and attachment anxiety significantly predicted depression. In Model 2, overall schema, attachment anxiety, and attachment avoidance significantly predicted relationship satisfaction, with EMS acting as a positive predictor. Results suggest that Latinx college students with EMS and anxious attachment style endorse more depression, while the influence of EMS and attachment style on relationship satisfaction needs to be further investigated. Considerations for the use of schema therapy and future research are discussed.

scholarly journals Outside the Eye of the Storm: Can Moderate Hurricane Exposure Improve Social, Psychological, and Attachment Functioning?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anthony D Mancini ◽  
Maren Westphal ◽  
Paul Griffin
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Negative Emotion ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Hurricane Sandy ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Moderate Intensity ◽  
Social Psychological ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Matched Comparison ◽  
Global Distress

High-intensity disaster can harm psychological functioning. Could moderate-intensity disaster improve psychological and attachment functioning through its effects on social functioning? We used a prospective quasi-experimental cohort design to investigate this possibility among college students. Hurricane cohort participants (N = 209) completed assessments before, two weeks, and six weeks after Hurricane Sandy. Two matched comparison cohorts (Ns > 140) were assessed four months and one year later. The hurricane cohort, in contrast to matched comparison cohorts, reported increased social support, reduced global distress, reduced negative emotion, and reduced attachment avoidance at the end of the semester. Increased social support mediated the relationship between hurricane cohort and reduced global distress, negative emotion, attachment avoidance, and attachment anxiety, and increased positive emotion and self-esteem at six weeks post-storm. The results suggest moderate disaster exposure can benefit short-term social, psychological, and attachment functioning, underscoring the critical role of the social context in stress adaptation.

Effect of Attachment Style on Selective Attention in Panic Disorder

2020 ◽  
Vol 39 (6) ◽  
pp. 523-560
Author(s):  
Ottilia Klipsch ◽  
Henning Schauenburg ◽  
Christoph Nikendei ◽  
Cord Benecke ◽  
Ulrike Dinger
Keyword(s):  
Panic Disorder ◽  
Attentional Bias ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Reaction Times ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Moderation Effect ◽  
Interpersonal Threat

Introduction: Given the heterogeneity of results in the attentional bias to threatening information in patients with panic disorder, we investigated the attentional bias toward threat and the moderating effect of attachment styles in a female-only sample of panic patients and a nonclinical control group. Methods: Female panic patients (n = 47) were compared to a female control group (n = 47) using a modified Dot Probe Task with body-related and interpersonal threat as well as attachment positive words. Results: An attentional bias toward threat words was not replicated. Furthermore, there was no moderation effect on attentional bias by attachment styles. However, high attachment avoidance was associated with faster reaction times (RT) in attachment positive compared to attachment threat trials in both groups. In the patient group, attachment anxiety was associated with faster RT in panic threat trials compared to attachment positive trials. Anxiously attached controls reacted faster to attachment positive vs. attachment threat trials. Discussion: No attentional bias was found in the present study. However, the findings suggest that attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety differently influence attention responses to trials that include different emotional stimuli in clinical and nonclinical, female participants. Attachment insecurity may modify attention when processing trials including both, threat and positive stimuli.

Adult Attachment, Social Support, and Depression Level of Poststroke Patients

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (10) ◽  
pp. 1341-1351 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tonggui Li ◽  
Jia Li ◽  
Qiyan Dai
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Adult Attachment ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Stroke Patients ◽  
Post Stroke ◽  
Depression Level ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
The Relationship

This study investigated the relationship between adult attachment, social support, and depression of post-stroke patients. A total of 100 post-stroke patients were recruited to complete 4 questionnaires, which include 2 widely used measurements of adult attachment – the Relationship Questionnaire (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991) and the Experiences of Close Relationships Inventory (Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998) – to measure patients' attachment style, the Social Support Inventory (Xiao, 1994) measuring four aspects of social support, and the Beck Depression Inventory (Beck, 1967) measuring their depression level. The results suggested that patients differ in adult attachment styles and varied significantly in all indices of social support and depression. Secure subjects got higher scores in social support and lower scores of depression. Their depression level had significant positive correlations with attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety, and was negatively correlated to all indices of social support. Furthermore, both attachment-anxiety and subjective social support can predicate the depression level of poststroke patients.

The effects of attachment style and security priming on the perception of others’ pain

2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 184-208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yangu Pan ◽  
Dajun Zhang ◽  
Yanling Liu ◽  
Guangming Ran ◽  
Zhaojun Teng
Keyword(s):  
Pain Intensity ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Adult Attachment ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Anxious Attachment ◽  
Priming Paradigm ◽  
Perceived Pain ◽  
Preoccupied Attachment

Abundant evidence has demonstrated a relationship between adult attachment and the experience of one’s own pain. However, few studies have investigated the associations between adult attachment and perception of others’ pain. The current studies examined the effects of attachment style and security priming on the perception of others’ pain. In Study 1, we explored the influence of avoidant and anxious attachment styles on the perception of pain in pictures representing pain or no pain. The results indicated that individuals high on anxiety and low on avoidance (i.e., preoccupied attachment style) reported more pain intensity and unpleasantness for painful pictures; individuals high on both anxiety and avoidance (i.e., fearful attachment style) reported less pain intensity for painful pictures. In Study 2, we examined the effects of security priming and attachment style on the perception of pain in pictures representing pain or no pain by adopting a security priming paradigm. The results suggested that security priming attenuated perceived pain intensity for painful pictures for individuals with high attachment anxiety. In Study 3, we used another well-validated security priming paradigm; results indicated that security priming reduced perceived pain intensity for pain pictures among individuals high on anxiety and low on avoidance (i.e., preoccupied attachment style) but increased perceived pain intensity for painful pictures among individuals high on both anxiety and avoidance (i.e., fearful attachment style). Directions for future research, clinical implications, and limitations of the present studies are discussed.

scholarly journals Attachment-related differences in dispositional anger and its experience and expression following an insult-based anger induction

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zara Brodie ◽  
Karen Goodall ◽  
Stephen Darling ◽  
Chris McVittie
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Trait Anger ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Significant Independent Predictor ◽  
Anger Suppression ◽  
Taylor Aggression Paradigm ◽  
Post Test ◽  
Attachment Dimensions

Variation in how individuals experience and express anger has been linked to their attachment style, particularly in close interpersonal contexts. However, little research has investigated attachment-related differences in anger and aggression in non-relational settings. This multi-method investigation reports two studies. The first investigated associations between adult attachment dimensions (anxiety and avoidance) in 270 participants. The second describes a lab-based anger provocation task, based on a modified version of the Taylor Aggression Paradigm, which examined associations between attachment dimensions and pre-post test change in self-reported anger, physiological responses, anger suppression and aggressive responding (N = 77). Results from study 1 indicate that attachment anxiety was a significant independent predictor of trait anger, while attachment avoidance was not. There were no significant interaction effects, suggesting distinct effects of attachment dimensions on anger. In study 2, attachment avoidance was negatively related to anger change scores from baseline to post-provocation and positively to anger suppression (measured by the discrepancy between self-report and physiological measures). Attachment anxiety was positively associated with aggressive responding. In summary, the findings support the high arousal-low control style previously associated with attachment anxiety, evidenced by elevated trait anger and higher aggressive responding. They also align with previous studies that support an association between attachment avoidance and emotion suppression, suggesting that the attachment framework can be usefully extended to understand anger and aggression in non-relational contexts.

A Study Evaluating Mindfulness and Naikan-Based Therapy: AEON-HO for Attachment Style, Self-Actualization, and Depression

2018 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 239-251
Author(s):  
Chieko Fujisaki
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Depression Scale ◽  
Epidemiologic Studies ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Depressive State ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Self Actualization

AEON-HO (Altering emotional organization-holistic operation) contains methods of Naikan therapy and mindfulness. Naikan and mindfulness are originally from Buddhism tradition, and they have a high affinity. AEON-HO was conceptualized to improve attachment issues and the growth of self-actualization, because Naikan and mindfulness are known to be effective for attachment issues but partially if they are used independently. Naikan can approach to attachment avoidance, while mindfulness can approach to attachment anxiety. The primary purpose of this study was to assess the effectiveness of AEON-HO on attachment styles, self-actualization, and depression by using “attachment style scale the Experiences in Close Relationships inventory–the generalized–other–version (ECR-GO),” “self-actualization scale” translated to Japanese, and “center for epidemiologic studies for depression scale.” Participants have taken these three psychological questionnaires before and after the eight-week program of AEON-HO, and the results of scales were compared. Participants were 36 adults with a mean age of 49 years ( SD = 3.9). Changes in two attachment styles, anxiety and avoidance and depressive state, were observed between pre- and posttest, while there were no significant changes in self-actualization. However, attachment anxiety and self-actualization were correlated negatively in pre- and posttest, while attachment avoidance and self-actualization were correlated negatively only in pretest.

scholarly journals The Role of Attachment in Language Brokering and Psychological Well-being among College Students

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 156-175
Author(s):  
Robert S. Weisskirch ◽  
Shu-Sha Angie Guan ◽  
Vanja Lazarevic
Keyword(s):  
College Students ◽  
Indirect Effect ◽  
Indirect Effects ◽  
Somatic Symptoms ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Language Brokering ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Psychological Well Being ◽  
Language Brokers

Emerging adult (EA), college students from immigrant families continue engaging in language brokering (LB), translating documents and other media for their parents, in ways that can affect their well-being. For these language brokers, the relationship between parental attachment and psychological well-being may be through frequency and perceptions of their LB work. In this study, 459 language brokers ( Mage = 21.36, Female = 80%) completed an online questionnaire about frequency and perceptions of LB, attachment, and psychological well-being. Attachment anxiety and avoidance had negative indirect effects on anxiety and somatic symptoms through feelings of LB burden. Attachment anxiety had a negative indirect effect on somatic symptoms through LB intrusiveness. There were negative indirect effects of LB burden on attachment avoidance to anxiety and somatic symptoms. There was a negative indirect effect of LB intrusiveness on attachment avoidance to somatic symptoms. Findings indicate that perceptions of LB may relate to psychological well-being when attachment is insecure.

Avoidant attachment style predicts less positive evaluations of warm (but not cold) social groups

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 19-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicholas Santascoy ◽  
Sara E. Burke ◽  
John F. Dovidio
Keyword(s):  
Interpersonal Relationships ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Homeless People ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
White People ◽  
Attachment Avoidance ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
Stereotype Content ◽  
Favorable Evaluation

Two studies investigated the hypothesis that because individuals who are high on attachment avoidance tend to be disinterested in warmth in interpersonal relationships, they may respond less favorably to groups perceived as warm, attenuating the generally positive association between perceived warmth and favorable evaluation of a group. In Study 1, participants responded to groups representing the four quadrants based on warmth and competence identified by the stereotype content model (e.g., White people, homeless people). On average, people evaluated groups higher in stereotypical warmth more positively. However, as predicted, this effect was significantly weaker among participants higher in attachment avoidance. No effect was found for attachment anxiety. Study 2, in which the perceived warmth of a fictitious group was experimentally manipulated, conceptually replicated the effect for attachment avoidance. Understanding how attachment avoidance may attenuate favorable attitudes toward socially warm groups can help illuminate broader processes of intergroup relations.

Women's Adult Romantic Attachment Style and Communication by Cell Phone with Romantic Partners

2012 ◽  
Vol 111 (1) ◽  
pp. 281-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert S. Weisskirch
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Cell Phone ◽  
Cell Phones ◽  
Romantic Attachment ◽  
Romantic Partners ◽  
Text Messages ◽  
Attachment Anxiety ◽  
Romantic Partner ◽  
Attachment Avoidance

Cell phones have become important communication media for individuals in romantic relationships. The frequency of and methods used for communication may vary by adults' style of romantic attachment. Female university students ( N = 31) currently in romantic relationships responded to a questionnaire. They estimated the frequency of calls and text messages received from and made to their romantic partners and completed the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised instrument, a measure of attachment anxiety and avoidance. Also, the participants reviewed their cell phones' memories and provided accurate frequency of communication to and from the romantic partner. Attachment anxiety was associated with more estimated text messages sent to and received from the romantic partners and actual text messages sent to and received from the romantic partners. Attachment avoidance was associated ( r = −.38) with fewer estimated calls made to the romantic partners and fewer actual calls made to the romantic partners ( r = −.34).

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