Attachment and Interpersonal Distress: Examining the Relationship between Attachment Styles and Interpersonal Problems in a Clinical Population

摘要

The present study examined the relationship between self-perceived attachment styles and interpersonal problems. Specifically,we utilized a clinical sample from an outpatient university-basedcommunity clinic who completed the Experiences in Close Relation-ships Scale-Revised, the Relationship Questionnaire and Inventoryof Interpersonal Problems Circumplex Scales (IIP-64) as part of apsychological assessment process. The results showed a significantpositive correlation between the IIP-64 total score and both attach-ment anxiety and attachment avoidance. Findings revealed significantnegative relationships between a secure attachment and the domi-nant, vindictive, cold, socially inhibited and non-assertive subscalesof the IIP-64. Findings also revealed a significant positive relation-ship between a fearful attachment and the dominant, vindictive, cold,socially inhibited and non-assertive subscales of the IIP-64. Finally,results showed a significant relationship between a dismissive attach-ment and the dominant subscale of the IIP-64.