The Role of Attachment Anxiety and Avoidance
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Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies 12-2017 Emotional Experience During Couple Support Interactions: The Role of Attachment Anxiety and Avoidance E. Megan Lachmar Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd Part of the Marriage and Family Therapy and Counseling Commons Recommended Citation Lachmar, E. Megan, "Emotional Experience During Couple Support Interactions: The Role of Attachment Anxiety and Avoidance" (2017). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. 6863. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/6863 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. EMOTIONAL EXPERIENCE DURING COUPLE SUPPORT INTERACTIONS: THE ROLE OF ATTACHMENT ANXIETY AND AVOIDANCE by E. Megan Lachmar A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in Family, Consumer, and Human Development (Marriage and Family Therapy) Approved: ______________________ ______________________ Ryan B. Seedall, Ph.D. W. David Robinson, Ph.D. Major Professor Committee Member ______________________ ______________________ Kay Bradford, Ph.D. Mark McLellan, Ph.D. Committee Member Vice President for Research and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2017 ii Copyright © E. Megan Lachmar 2017 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Emotional Experience During Couple Support Interactions: The Role of Attachment Anxiety and Avoidance by E. Megan Lachmar, Master of Science Utah State University, 2017 Major Professor: Dr. Ryan B. Seedall Department: Family, Consumer, and Human Development Attachment begins with an infant and caregiver and is determined by sensitivity and quality of responsiveness. These interactions determine internal working models of attachment, shaping the way adults view others and themselves. This inherently influences adult romantic relationships, with insecure attachment styles resulting in worse relationship outcomes. Much of the research thus far on attachment in intimate partnerships has focused on areas of relationship conflict. However, daily interactions couples have when they are not fighting is a potentially very important aspect missing from the literature. In this study, we examined the way partners support each other when discussing personal issues rather than relationship conflict. In addition to collecting self- reports of perceptions of couple support, we used psychophysiological measures to determine the internal emotional experience during couple interactions. (110 pages) iv PUBLIC ABSTRACT Emotional Experience During Couple Support Interactions: The Role of Attachment Anxiety and Avoidance E. Megan Lachmar The Marriage and Family Therapy clinic at Utah State University conducted a study called the Relationship Checkup in which couple data was collected in an initial 2- hour session and feedback was provided for them in a follow-up 1-hour session. This checkup included completing self-report surveys, having an in-person interview, as well as couple interactions. The current study was carried out within the context of this broader relationship checkup, focusing on the couple support interactions, in which partners discussed a personal issue they would like to change about themselves. Although a substantial amount of attention has been given to the role of attachment during couple conflict, much less attention has been given to social support processes. Yet the purpose of therapy is not only to diminish disruptive conflict but also to enhance positive relationship processes, making a greater understanding of social support processes crucial to the therapy process. The results of this study indicate that partners with higher levels of avoidant attachment perceived they were receiving and providing less support. This reveals that couple therapists may need to assist these partners in reaching out and providing support. Additionally, results show that for women, discussing a personal issue soothed them physiologically. Therefore, rather than focusing on couple conflict, couples therapists can also build positive relationship interactions through couple social support. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This thesis would not have been possible without the constant support, mentorship, and guidance of Dr. Ryan Seedall. I am so grateful to have the chance to learn from Ryan about research, writing, therapy, and academia in general. I am also extremely thankful for my committee members, Drs. Dave Robinson and Kay Bradford, who helped immensely and gave great insight into my project. I would not be in this setting if it weren’t for my amazing parents, Tom and Barbara Lachmar. They taught me how important education was and gave me the chance to pursue my dreams. I am also thankful for my amazing siblings who provide moral support and love throughout my education. Additionally, I would like to thank my wonderful cohort, Lacey, Ty, Julie, Matt, and Jake, who were there throughout the whole process encouraging me to finish. E. Megan Lachmar vi CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................................... iii PUBLIC ABSTRACT ....................................................................................................... iv ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................. v LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................... viii LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ iviii CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................1 II. LITERATURE REVIEW ....................................................................................5 Attachment in Infancy..................................................................................6 Attachment Theory in Adulthood ..............................................................10 Attachment and Couple Relationship Processes ........................................12 Attachment and Couple Conflict ...............................................................14 Attachment in Couple Social Support Processes .......................................19 Purpose of the Current Study .....................................................................26 III. METHODS ......................................................................................................28 Procedures ..................................................................................................28 Recruitment and Sample ............................................................................31 Demographic Variables .............................................................................33 Measures ....................................................................................................38 IV. RESULTS ........................................................................................................50 General Approach to Data Analysis ..........................................................50 Research Questions and their Analyses .....................................................56 Summary of Results ...................................................................................65 V. DISCUSSION ...................................................................................................66 Avoidance and Social Support ...................................................................67 Social Support and Psychophysiological Arousal .....................................70 vii Income and Physiological Distress ............................................................73 Clinical Implications ..................................................................................74 Limitations and Implications for Future Research.....................................78 Conclusion .................................................................................................79 REFERENCES ..................................................................................................................81 APPENDICES ...................................................................................................................90 viii LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1a Summary of Demographic Characteristics of the Sample........................................................................................................35 1b Summary of Demographic Characteristics of the Sample by Gender ......................................................................................37 1c Summary of Categorical Characteristics of the Sample by Gender ......................................................................................37 2 Psychometric Properties of Predictor Variables and Covariates ............................................................................................39 3a Pattern Matrix for 11-item Couple Support Scale Self ..............................45 3b Pattern Matrix for 10-item Couple Support Scale Partner ........................................................................................................46