Attachment network structure as a predictor of romantic attachment formation and insecurity. Issue 1 (29th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Freeman, Harry; Simons, Jeffrey
• Is Part Of: Social development. Volume 27:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 201
• Page End: 220
• Publication Date: 2017-09-29
• Subjects: attachment -- romantic relationships -- social cognition -- social support -- young adults; Child development -- Periodicals; Socialization -- Periodicals; 305.0791
• DOI: 10.1111/sode.12265
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0961-205X

Abstract

Abstract: We present a new framework to conceptualize normative variation in attachment network structure and use the framework to predict romantic attachment formation and attachment insecurity. Young adults ( N = 2, 055) completed the Attachment Network Questionnaire and were classified into one of four network types based on two comparisons: (a) between their primary and secondary figure, and (b) between their secondary and tertiary figure. Each comparison was coded as Similar (S) or Different (D), resulting in the following distribution across four network types: (a) 40% D:D—diversified; (b) 32% D:S—monotropic; (c) 19% S:D—joint principal; and (d) 9% S:S—distributed. Romantic duration predicted a developmental sequence of network structure consistent with infant attachment formation. Findings also indicated that the nonhierarchical network, distributed type, was associated with insecure attachment representations. Results suggest that attachment networks exhibit greater structural diversity than is commonly assumed and that the new framework is useful for understanding developmental and social outcomes.