Adult Attachments and Sexuality: Implications for Understanding Risk Behaviours for HIV Infection

Abstract

In response to the AIDS epidemic, there has been an intensification of interest in human sexuality research in general and "safe sex" practices in particular. Most research models have been somewhat mechanistic in focus, however, with little recognition of the significance of affectional needs in the formation and maintenance of sexual relationships. In this paper we propose that relationship issues are central to an understanding of the expression of sexuality, and that attachment theory provides a useful perspective on human sexual bonds. It is suggested that future research could usefully extend the conceptualisation of adult attachment styles by exploring the meaning of attachment relationships for gay and heterosexual couples, and the implications of attachment style for the behaviours associated with sexual relationships, including the negotiation of safe sex practices. Such research would have direct relevance for prevention programs relevant to HIV/AIDS.

Perceived parental reactions to coming out, attachment, and romantic relationship views

“…Furthermore, an alternative model in which romantic attachment predicted parent-child relationship quality fit the data less well. These results support the argument that attachment theory can be used to understand LGB romantic pair bonds (Feeney & Raphael, 1992;Mohr, 2008).…”

The Causal Effects of Relational Security and Insecurity on Condom Use Attitudes and Acquisition Behavior

“…Researchers (e.g., Feeney & Raphael, 1992) Results from our third study also highlight the applied value in finding novel ways to frame condom use in promotion messages. Framing condom use as a prosocial other-oriented act (Mikulincer et al, 2005) eliminated the decreases in condom acquisition that resulted from attachment security priming in the control condition and the other studies.…”

“…Meta-analyses of condom behavior studies revealed a central determining role for attitudes; if people hold a negative attitude about condoms they are unlikely to use them (Albaracín et al, 2005;Albaracín, Johnson, Fishbein, & Muellerleile, 2001;Sheeran, Abraham, & Orbell, 1999). A major limitation of the literature on condom-related attitudes, however, is its disregard of relational processes that influence condom use (Ciesla, Roberts, & Hewitt, 2004;Feeney & Raphael, 1992;WHO, 2012). Focusing on relational processes can help explain the motivational and emotion-based aspects of sexuality and condom use (Feeney & Raphael, 1992).…”

“…A major limitation of the literature on condom-related attitudes, however, is its disregard of relational processes that influence condom use (Ciesla, Roberts, & Hewitt, 2004;Feeney & Raphael, 1992;WHO, 2012). Focusing on relational processes can help explain the motivational and emotion-based aspects of sexuality and condom use (Feeney & Raphael, 1992). For example, reasoned action and health belief approaches to understanding condom use (e.g., Ajzen, 1991;Rosenstock, 1974) do not explicitly detail the roles that relational feelings of trust and intimacy, or the motivation to get close to sexual partners, play in determining condom use behavior (e.g., Bauman & Berman, 2005).…”

Attachment relationships of preschool-aged children of mothers with HIV and HIV-related psychosis

“…Studies focusing on HIV and attachment are mostly focused on attachment styles of adults with HIV (Feeney & Raphael, 1992;Koopman et al, 2000) or the attachment relationships of HIV-positive children (Dobrova-krol, Bakermans-Kranenburg, Van IJzendoorn, & Juffer, 2010). Only one study could be found on mother-infant attachment relationships where the mothers were HIV positive.…”