Examining the association between adult attachment style and cortisol responses to acute stress

Kidd, Tara; Hamer, Mark; Steptoe, Andrew

doi:10.1016/j.psyneuen.2010.10.014

Cited by 84 publications

(71 citation statements)

References 54 publications

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“…Other studies have reported insecure dismissing attachment style to predict enhanced cortisol reactivity (Pierrehumbert et al, 2012;RifkinGraboi, 2008) whereas secure and dismissive attachment styles have been reported as similar elsewhere (Kidd et al, 2011). Further studies show no relationship between cortisol responding to a stressor and attachment style (e.g.…”

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confidence: 85%

“…Powers et al, 2006) visualization of hypothetical distressing situations (e.g. Rifkin-Graboi, 2008) and behavioural interference tasks (Kidd et al, 2011). The most commonly used tool to assess attachment style in adult stress reactivity studies is the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (Brennan et al, 1995), which assesses attachment in romantic relationships.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Anxious attachment style predicts an enhanced cortisol response to group psychosocial stress

Thorn

Oskis

Hucklebridge

et al. 2015

Stress

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Insecure attachment style is associated with poor health outcomes. A proposed pathway implicates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA-axis), dysregulation of which is associated with a wide range of mental and physical ill-health. However data on stress reactivity in relation to attachment style is contradictory. This relationship was examined using the novel Trier Social Stress Test for groups (TSST-G): a group-based acute psychosocial stressor. Each participant, in the presence of other group members, individually performed public speaking and mental arithmetic tasks. Seventy-eight healthy young females (20.2 ± 3.2 years), in groups of up to 6 participants completed demographic information and the Vulnerable Attachment Style Questionnaire (VASQ), and were then exposed to the TSST-G. Physiological stress reactivity was assessed using salivary cortisol concentrations, measured on 7 occasions at 10-minute intervals. Vulnerable attachment predicted greater cortisol reactivity independent of age, smoking status, menstrual phase and BMI. Supplementary analysis indicated that insecure anxious attachment style (high scores on the insecurity and proximity seeking sub-scales of the VASQ) showed greater cortisol reactivity than participants with secure attachment style. Avoidant attachment style (high scores for insecurity and low scores for proximity seeking) was not significantly different from the secure attachment style. Attachment style was not associated with the timing of the cortisol peak or post-stress recovery in cortisol concentrations. These findings in healthy young females indicate subtle underlying changes in HPA axis function in relation to attachment style and may be important for future mental health and well-being.

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confidence: 85%

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confidence: 99%

Anxious attachment style predicts an enhanced cortisol response to group psychosocial stress

Thorn

Oskis

Hucklebridge

et al. 2015

Stress

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“…Individuals with insecure attachment show a greater perception of stress when compared to securely attached individuals (Kidd, Hamer, & Steptoe, 2011). In general, cortisol levels are known to be altered in patients with depression, anxiety, posttraumatic stress disorder, as well as in insecure attachment (Kidd, Hamer, & Steptoe, 2010;Quirin, Pruessner, & Kuhl, 2008).…”

Section: The Stress Responsementioning

confidence: 99%

The Neurobiology of Attachment: From Infancy to Clinical Outcomes

Chambers

2017

Psychodynamic Psychiatry

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Attachment theory was developed by John Bowlby in the 1950s. He defined attachment as a specific neurobiological system that resulted in the infant connecting to the primary caretaker in such a way to create an inner working model of relationships that continues throughout life and affects the future mental health and physical health of the infant. Given the significance of this inner working model, there has been a tremendous amount of research done in animals as well as humans to better understand the neurobiology. In this article the neurobiology of early development will be outlined with respect to the formation of attachment. This article will review what we have begun to understand as the neurobiology of attachment and will describe how the relationship with the primary caretaker affects the infant in a way leading to neurobiological changes that later in life affect emotional responses, reward, and perception difficulties that we recognize as psychiatric illness and medical morbidity.Keywords: attachment theory, neurodevelopment, oxytocin, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis ATTACHMENT THEORY: A BRIEF HISTORYThe parent-infant bond has arguably been the most important process for human survival. While the importance of the mother-infant attachment has been understood for centuries, it was not studied until John Bowlby developed attachment theory in the 1950s. In order to put attachment theory in proper context, one must begin with a reminder of Sigmund Freud's drive theory. According to drive theory, we attached to our mothers because they fed us and gratified our oral yearn- NEUROBIOLOGY OF ATTACHMENT 543ings (Freud, 1923). In other words, our attachments were derived from our libidinal drives and did not exist independently. Drive theory was largely a one-person psychology focusing on the drives and conflicts of the individual; our mother was simply an instigator who either gratified or displeased our internal drives and wishes.Melanie Klein led us to a two-person psychology where the other person was more than an instigator of drives and wishes. The mother, in particular, shaped the psychology of the infant through representations of the good and the bad breast, the merger of the two, and the hope for reparation that allows us to stay attached to our mothers. Klein introduced the idea that we need to feel hope for reparation to stay connected to our loved ones in spite of our own aggressive drives (Kristeva, 2001). For the first time, the object had relevance in our psychology, though Klein believed that the emotional problems of children still came largely from the fantasies generated by internal conflict related to the object.John Bowlby was a supervisee of Melanie Klein and was influenced by her, however he argued that children's emotional problems do not stem from their own internal conflicts based on a fantasy of the caretaker, but rather their emotional problems stem from actual experiences with their caretakers (Bretherton, 1992). Furthermore, Bowlby suggested that the need for social b...

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“…Several studies repeatedly demonstrated relations between SIgA variations and psychological stress of students (Guo et al, 2002). Levels of SIgA are influenced by additional factors such as amount of water consumption (Backes et al, 2015), physical activity and physical challenge (Cieslak et al, 2003;Dwyer et al, 2010;Gleeson and Pyne, 2000), changes in biorhythms during work shift (Guo et al, 2002;Lac and Chamoux, 2003), time of the season, location, altitude above sea level and most of all by stress related to psychological challenge and persisting physical challenge (Cieslak et al, 2003;Cohen et al, 2001;Gleeson and Pyne, 2000;Guo et al, 2002;Hunter et al, 2011;Kidd et al, 2011;Powell et al, 2015;Yang et al, 2002). Two major branches of stress induction include autonomous nervous system and hypothalamus-adrenal gland-pituitary axis.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glucan Supplementation Regulates Secretory Immunity and Stress

Richter

Stiborová

Vlastimil

et al. 2017

American Journal of Immunology

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Sixty-six children were supplemented with beta glucan and dietary nucleotides, another 63 children served as negative control. We evaluated the effects of these supplements on several aspects of secretory immunity such as levels of secretory IgA (SIgA), albumin and SIgA/albumin ratio. In addition, in order to monitor effects of physical challenges and compensatory treatments on stress and reparation of immunity, we measured levels of salivary cortisol. We found significant effects of supplementation with beta glucan on secretory IgA in children with increased physical challenge. To fully explain these findings, we will need to add additional indicators of stress and salivary immunity.

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Examining the association between adult attachment style and cortisol responses to acute stress

Cited by 84 publications

References 54 publications

Anxious attachment style predicts an enhanced cortisol response to group psychosocial stress

Anxious attachment style predicts an enhanced cortisol response to group psychosocial stress

The Neurobiology of Attachment: From Infancy to Clinical Outcomes

Glucan Supplementation Regulates Secretory Immunity and Stress

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