Attachment Theory and Research

The Role of Attachment Style in Coping with Job Loss and the Empty Nest in Adulthood

“…Our central assumption is that the security or insecurity of attachment will influence how life events are perceived (i.e., as threatening or not threatening) and thus whether or not the attachment system will be activated. We therefore argue that Bowlby's (1973Bowlby's ( , 1982 theoretical notion of internal working models as they influence attachment styles can be extended to views about significant life roles and one's relationships to such roles (see Bretherton & Munholland, 1999;Kenny & Barton, 2003). Moreover, we argue that one's identity as a parent or worker may be linked to the "self" aspect of one's internal working model.…”

“…In contrast, Bartholomew (1990) and Bartholomew and Horowitz (1991) partially redefined attachment style to include two categories of avoidant individuals, fearful and dismissive, on the basis of both self-report data [(Relationship Questionnaire (RQ), Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ)] and coded interviews, creating a four group taxonomy (positive-negative, self-other) of attachment style (see Kenny & Barton, 2003). Main and Goldwyn (1985) developed the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) to assess attachment style security, wherein adults are placed into one of three attachment style groups based on their ability to recall early parental attachment relationships.…”

“…Main and Goldwyn (1985) developed the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) to assess attachment style security, wherein adults are placed into one of three attachment style groups based on their ability to recall early parental attachment relationships. Kenny and Barton (2003) note that while correspondence between AAS and the RQ is high, that between the AAI and self-report measures is less so, wherein the AAI assesses "one's understanding of the meaning and significance of attachment experiences" (p. 379), while self-report measures reflect the "quality of experiences with parents and peers" (p. 379).…”

“…Because job loss would likely be perceived as threatening to one's well-being, as well as to the well-being of family members, it would be expected to generate high levels of anxiety threatening one's self-competence that would activate the attachment system to a greater degree than the launching of children. On the other hand, Kenny and Barton (2003) have noted that while attachment styles established earlier in life may be stable over time, the likelihood of their changing covaries with the experience of negative life events. Thus, the potential influence of attachment styles that have been previously established and/or the impact of negative life events on attachment styles highlights the presumed relationship between attachment style and the experience of distinct life events that vary in the likelihood of eliciting attachment behaviors.…”

“…For example, they may deny or underestimate an event's impact on them or rely on themselves when turning to others for help and support might be more adaptive. Kobak and Duemmler (1994) note that situations which are challenging, provoke fear, and cause conflict elicit attachment-like behaviors in adults as well (see also Kenny & Barton, 2003). Adult attachments presumably are derived from early attachments, but they differ from parent-child bonds in the reciprocal nature of attachment and caregiving (Hazan & Zeifman, 1999).…”