| Type of Document |
Master's Thesis |
| Author |
Davies, Lorin Christopher
|
| URN |
etd-05112004-122535 |
| Title |
The association between attachment style and uni- and bi-directional pursuer-distancer patterns in couples: A clinical sample of couples in counseling |
| Degree |
Master of Science |
| Department |
Human Development |
| Advisory Committee |
| Advisor Name |
Title |
| Karen Rosen |
Committee Chair |
| Eric McCollum |
Committee Member |
| Sandra Stith |
Committee Member |
|
| Keywords |
- distance
- adult attachment
- couples
- closeness
- pursuer-distancer
|
| Date of Defense |
2004-05-07 |
| Availability |
unrestricted |
Abstract
This study examined the relationship between adult attachment style and pursuer-distancer patterns in couples. Both uni- and bi-directional pursuer-distancer patterns were studied. Participants were 67 individuals (including 32 couples) in therapy. Each partner, independent of the other, completed an anonymous questionnaire containing the Multi-item Measure of Adult Romantic Attachment (Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998) and a four-item measure of pursuer-distancer pattern designed for this study. The relationship between male dismissing attachment style and the presence of a pursuer-distancer pattern in the couple approached significance. Analyses of attachment style and the specific direction of the pursuer-distancer pattern as a couple-level variable were non-significant. However, when self-report of pursuer-distancer pattern was analyzed as an individual-level variable, a significant relationship was found between pursuing and a preoccupied attachment style and between distancing and a dismissing attachment style. Fearful attachment style was related to bi-directional pursuer-distancer pattern when measured by partner’s report but not when measured by self-report. Dismissing and fearful attachment styles in males were related to lower relationship satisfaction in males and females. Pursuer-distancer patterns (particularly female-pursue and bi-directional patterns) were significantly related to lower relationship satisfaction in males and females. No relationship was found between attachment style or pursuer-distancer pattern report and the gender of the participant. Implications for treating pursuer-distancer patterns couples are discussed.
|
| Files |
| Filename |
Size |
Approximate Download Time
(Hours:Minutes:Seconds)
|
| 28.8 Modem |
56K Modem |
ISDN (64 Kb) |
ISDN (128 Kb) |
Higher-speed Access |
| |
davies_thesis_revised.pdf |
235.98 Kb |
00:01:05 |
00:00:33 |
00:00:29 |
00:00:14 |
00:00:01 |
|
