Characteristics of social functioning of clinical population: Quality of close relationships and attachment

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine the relations between the quality of close relationships and attachment styles using a clinical sample (N = 57.61% female, Age range = 17-68 years). To measure the quality of social functioning we used the Inventory of the Social Relations Network (NRI), to assess the attachment styles, we used the Relationships Questionnaire (RQ), and for assessing the severity of psychopathological symptoms: the Beck Depression Inventory, Cornell index and MMPI-202 were used. The obtained results showed that subjects of different categories of mental disorders do not differ significantly according to general estimates of the quality of close relationships. However, when considering the dimensions of psychopathological symptoms, we found statistically significant differences in the quality of close relationships. The research also shows that subjects with different attachment styles significantly differ in the quality of close relationships. Given that more pronounced psychopathological problems are associated with diminished quality of close relationships, we discussed that mental difficulties are potentially adversely reflected in the social functioning of individuals.