Birth status and adult attachment

Abstract

Numerous studies have investigated the effects of having an unwanted or unplanned pregnancy on parents. Less is known about the long-term effects of unwanted or unplanned pregnancy on the child and his or her personality. Here we examined in one correlational study and three experiments the associations between birth status (being unwanted, unplanned, or neither) and adult attachment. In general, being unwanted, and to a lesser extent unplanned, was associated with attachment insecurity. Priming thoughts about being an unwanted baby resulted in decreased state attachment security and increased state attachment insecurity. These findings suggest that birth status and knowledge about it play a role not only in parents’ but also in children’s lives—affecting their attachment and mental representation into adulthood.

Do life events lead to enduring changes in adult attachment styles? A naturalistic longitudinal investigation.

“…Moreover, for both theoretical and applied reasons, attachment researchers want to know whether specific kinds of experiences are capable of changing the deep-seated ways in which people relate to significant others in their lives (e.g., Arriaga, Kumashiro, Finkel, VanderDrift, & Luchies, 2014; Arriaga, Kumashiro, Simpson, & Overall, 2018; Davila & Kashy, 2009). Identifying such experiences may shed light on potential risk factors for insecurity (e.g., Gillath, Casebier, Canterberry, & Karantzas, 2019) or provide insights into interventions that can promote or enhance security (e.g., Carnelley, Bejinaru, Otway, Baldwin, & Rowe, 2018; Gillath & Karantzas, 2019; McGuire, Gillath, Jackson, & Ingram, 2018; Rowe, Shepstone, Carnelley, Cavanagh, & Millings, 2016). At the core of such investigations is the assumption that the factors identified are associated with changes that do not fade away after a brief period of time.…”

Pregnancy Adaptation and its Association with Attachment Styles in Wanted and Unwanted Pregnancies

“…Parent's response to children's needs or in other words, the parent-child relationship is based on the parent attachment style and leads to the attachment style in children. Children's attachment style is an irreplaceable opportunity for emotional and social growth of children; so that, negative early experiences lead to psychological problems and aggression in children and adults [11][12][13][14]. Attachment style continues on the basis of emotions, expectations, active inner patterns, and beliefs in individuals until adulthood, affecting normal and abnormal personal and interpersonal relationships in adulthood [11].…”

“…Moreover, it is the basis of how individuals deal with life issues and the ways of their attitude, actions, and reactions to issues and problems [17]. The mother's attachment style affects her behavior with her child, child's development and growth, personality development, and subsequent attachment relationships [14,18]. Adult attachment research has confirmed that the attachment system is activated under stressful conditions; and individuals with different attachment styles seek to regulate emotions, feelings, and cope with abnormal situations by the ways that reflect their beliefs about themselves and others [19].…”

“…Attention seeking, negative self-evaluation, distress, and discomfort while ending a relationship and ongoing mental occupation of relationships with others are characteristics of ambivalent individuals [22,23]. Maternal attachment style during pregnancy appears as secure, insecure avoidant or insecure ambivalent attachment style, formed on the basis of her attachment experiences from childhood and has a significant impact on her prenatal attachment and maternal behavior and feelings towards the fetus [14,25]. Studies have reported varying rates of abortion, violence, emotional problems [26], physical problems during pregnancy, and low birth weight [20] and psychological disorders during and after pregnancy in different attachment styles [27,28].…”

The Relationship Between Attachment Orientations and University Adjustment Among Freshmen: Mediating Role of Perceived Stress

“…On the other hand, attachment avoidance is characterized by deactivation of the attachment system. Avoidantly attached individuals tend to deny attachment needs, suppress emotions and to devaluate close relationships (Gillath et al, 2019; Mikulincer & Shaver, 2019; Nolte et al, 2011). Although anxious and avoidant patterns might be functional in terms of survival during infancy and childhood, the affect regulation strategies come along with them have negative impact on the individual’s cognitive, emotional and social development as well as their mental health in adulthood (Adshead, 2018).…”