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Zhao W, Qiao C, Liu J, Zhou M, Lan Q, Liang W, Xiao Y, Yang M, Yang Y, Gong P. Genetic Contributions on Attachment in Emerging Adults: Cumulative Effects of Serotonergic Polymorphisms. J Youth Adolesc 2024:10.1007/s10964-024-02054-y. [PMID: 39014157 DOI: 10.1007/s10964-024-02054-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/18/2024]
Abstract
Attachment in emerging adults is closely intertwined with emotion regulation, stress coping, and social bonding during the transition from childhood to early adulthood. Due to the critical roles of serotonin in these mental functions, this research explored whether the cumulative genetic effects of serotonergic polymorphisms are associated with individual differences and contextual variations in attachment dimensions over time in emerging adults. Study 1 utilized a cross-sectional design in college students (N = 1088, mean age = 22.71 ± 2.86 years). The results showed significant correlations between a higher cumulative genetic score and elevated levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance. Study 2 employed a three-wave longitudinal design in a cohort of freshmen (N = 523, mean age = 19.54 ± 1.86 years at wave 1). The results demonstrated that a higher genetic score was associated with both higher levels and greater variability in attachment dimensions compared to a lower genetic score. These findings suggest that the cumulative genetic effects of serotonergic polymorphisms contribute to individual differences and dynamic processes in attachment dimensions in emerging adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenping Zhao
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Chenjin Qiao
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Jinting Liu
- School of Psychology, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, 518060, China
| | - Mingzhu Zhou
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Qi Lan
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Wenting Liang
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Yao Xiao
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Min Yang
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Yuting Yang
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China
| | - Pingyuan Gong
- College of Life Science, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China.
- College of Medicine, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China.
- Institute of Population and Health, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China.
- Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Ministry of Education, Northwest University, Xi'an, 710069, China.
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Pollard C, Bucci S, Berry K. A systematic review of measures of adult disorganized attachment. BRITISH JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY 2023; 62:329-355. [PMID: 36775812 DOI: 10.1111/bjc.12411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Disorganized attachment has been identified as an important factor in the development and maintenance of mental health problems. Further research is required to understand the mechanism by which this attachment pattern predisposes individuals to develop, and maintain, personal and social difficulties and mental health problems utilizing valid and reliable measurement tools. The assessment of adult disorganized attachment is therefore important for both applied psychologists and researchers. METHOD We conducted a systematic review using the COSMIN guidelines to identify and critically appraise instruments which measure adult disorganized attachment. A systematic database search was performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, PsychInfo and CINHAL in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. RESULTS Database searching provided 5757 results, with 18 measures identified across 27 eligible papers which were critically evaluated. Measurement properties were promising for the Childhood Disorganization and Role Reversal Scale, Psychological Treatment Inventory-Attachment Styles Scale, Attachment Style Questionnaire - Short Form and the Adult Attachment Interview. However, overall, due to inconsistent quality of methodology and reporting of results, it is challenging to reach sufficient conclusions and suggestions regarding the best instrument to use to measure adult disorganized attachment. CONCLUSION The Childhood Disorganization and Role Reversal Scale, Psychological Treatment Inventory-Attachment Styles Scale. Attachment Style Questionnaire-Short-Form and Adult Attachment Interview are the best available measures of disorganized attachment in adulthood. This review highlights the need for further psychometric testing of existing measures, or development of new instruments, grounded in sound methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Pollard
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Sandra Bucci
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Katherine Berry
- Division of Psychology and Mental Health, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, The University of Manchester, Manchester, UK.,Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
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Gander M, Karabatsiakis A, Nuderscher K, Bernheim D, Doyen-Waldecker C, Buchheim A. Secure Attachment Representation in Adolescence Buffers Heart-Rate Reactivity in Response to Attachment-Related Stressors. Front Hum Neurosci 2022; 16:806987. [PMID: 35250517 PMCID: PMC8891161 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2022.806987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
To date, we know very little about the effects of the differences in attachment classifications on the physiological correlates of stress regulation in adolescent age groups. The present study examined for the first time heart rate (HR) and heart rate variability (HRV) during an attachment interview in adolescents. HR and HRV data were collected during a baseline assessment as well as during the administration of the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP) in a community-based sample of 56 adolescents (26 females and 30 males, mean age = 16.05 years [SD = 1.10]). We additionally used the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) in 50% of our sample to test the convergent validity. Adolescents with a secure attachment representation showed a higher HRV from baseline to the AAP interview compared to those with an insecure-dismissing (Ds) and the unresolved group. A comparison between the two insecure attachment groups showed no significant difference related to HR and HRV. Cohen’s Kappa (κ = 0.81) revealed an almost perfect agreement between the AAP and the AAI for the four-group classification. Our results indicate that adolescents with a secure attachment representation are more capable of dealing with attachment-related distress which is represented in higher HRV during an attachment interview.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Gander
- Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
- *Correspondence: Manuela Gander,
| | | | | | - Dorothee Bernheim
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Anna Buchheim
- Institute of Psychology, University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
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Liang HY, Zhang B, Jiang HB, Zhou HL. Adult attachment: Its mediation role on childhood trauma and mobile phone addiction. JOURNAL OF PSYCHOLOGY IN AFRICA 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/14330237.2021.1952706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Han-Yu Liang
- School of Medical Humanities, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Applied Psychology, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Huai-Bin Jiang
- Department of Education, Fuqing Branch of Fujian Normal University, Fuqing, China
| | - Hui-Ling Zhou
- School of Medical Humanities, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
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Pallini S, Terrinoni A, Iannello S, Cerutti R, Ferrara M, Fantini F, Laghi F. Attachment-Related Representations and Suicidal Ideations in Nonsuicidal Self-Injury Adolescents with and without Suicide Attempts: A Pilot Study. Suicide Life Threat Behav 2020; 50:909-920. [PMID: 32175618 DOI: 10.1111/sltb.12633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Consistent with the debate surrounding the association between nonsuicidal self-injury (NSSI), suicidal intent, and suicidal behavior, and between NSSI and dysregulation processes, we attempted to analyze suicide intent and emotion dysregulation in NSSI adolescents, in the framework of the attachment representations and exploring these clues of emotion dysregulation characteristics of insecure attachment. Furthermore, we intended to focus on these attachment-related segregated systems regarding death and suicidal ideations, to explore how differently they would characterize self-injuring adolescents with and without suicide attempts. METHODS Thirty-four NSSI inpatient adolescents, 17 with suicide attempts, 17 without suicide attempts, and 17 healthy controls (age 11-17) were assessed using Adult Attachment Projective, which allows for the classification of attachment status and related emotion dysregulation and segregated systems. RESULTS The majority of the NSSI group with and without suicide attempts showed unresolved (disorganized) attachment-related representations and clues of damaged reflective functions, whereas only the NSSI with suicide attempts showed clues of impaired interpersonal relationships. The two clinical groups used words expressing suicidal intent, whereas the healthy group did not. CONCLUSIONS Therapists are encouraged not to underestimate suicidal ideation in NSSI regardless of whether or not they have already attempted suicide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna Pallini
- Department of Education, University of Rome Tre, Roma, Italy
| | - Arianna Terrinoni
- Department of Pediatrics and Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Iannello
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Rita Cerutti
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Ferrara
- Department of Pediatrics and Child and Adolescent Neurology and Psychiatry, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorella Fantini
- Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorenzo Laghi
- Department of Developmental and Social Psychology, Faculty of Medicine and Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
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Picardi A, Giuliani E, Gigantesco A. Genes and environment in attachment. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 112:254-269. [PMID: 32014527 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.01.038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Revised: 12/24/2019] [Accepted: 01/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
In the last two decades, there has been increasing research interest in disentangling the contribution of genetic and environmental factors to individual differences in attachment, and in identifying the genes involved in shaping attachment. Twin studies suggest that as attachment changes during the course of development, genetic factors may play a progressively more important role, while shared environmental effects might decrease. However, most of this literature is limited by low power, measurement issues, and cross-sectional design. The findings of molecular genetic studies are, overall, inconclusive. The literature on main genetic effects and gene-by-environment interactions on attachment is filled with inconsistent and unreplicated findings. Also, most studies are underpowered. Challenges for future research are to identify the unshared environmental mechanisms involved in shaping attachment, and to better elucidate the genes involved and their interaction with the environment. Some pioneer studies suggested that the incorporation of epigenetic processes into G × E interaction models might represent a promising future way for investigating the complex, dynamic interplay between genes, environment, and attachment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelo Picardi
- Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Eugenia Giuliani
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena, 291-293, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Gigantesco
- Centre for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Italian National Institute of Health, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Dagan O, Facompré CR, Bernard K. Adult attachment representations and depressive symptoms: A meta-analysis. J Affect Disord 2018; 236:274-290. [PMID: 29751243 DOI: 10.1016/j.jad.2018.04.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2018] [Revised: 04/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Attachment theory has long argued that insecure and disorganized attachment representations are associated with vulnerability to psychopathology in general, and depressive symptoms in particular. However, studies assessing the link between insecure and disorganized attachment and depressive symptoms report inconsistent results. The primary aim of this meta-analysis was to examine the extent to which adult attachment representations are associated with depressive symptoms. METHODS We conducted a literature search for published studies using PsycINFO, MEDLINE, and ProQuest in March 2017, identifying 55 samples (N = 4,386). Eligible studies assessed depression using a well-validated self-report or clinical diagnostic measure of depression and attachment using the Adult Attachment Interview. RESULTS Results demonstrated that insecure individuals had higher levels of depression than secure-autonomous individuals (d = 0.21, 95% CI [0.08-0.33]). Specifically, insecure-preoccupied individuals (d = 0.48, 95% CI [0.30-0.65]), but not insecure-dismissing individuals (d = 0.09, 95% CI [-0.03-0.22]), exhibited significantly more depressive symptoms than the secure-autonomous individuals. Additionally, unresolved adults had higher levels of depression than adults with organized attachment classifications (d = 0.29, 95% CI [0.13-0.44]). LIMITATIONS Due to the nature of the studies reviewed, causal inferences regarding the links found between adult attachment representations and depressive symptoms may not be drawn. Further, the aggregate effect sizes do not solely reflect the magnitude of the association between attachment representations and clinically-diagnosed major depressive disorder. CONCLUSIONS The results of this meta-analysis have important conceptual and practical implications for attachment-based prevention and intervention efforts, as they suggest that attachment representations, specifically insecure-preoccupied and unresolved, are associated with depressive symptoms in adulthood. Future research using longitudinal and intervention-based designs should examine the extent to which insecure-preoccupied and unresolved attachment lead to increased depressive symptoms, as well as the mechanisms by which these attachment patterns across the life span may increase vulnerability to depressive symptoms in adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Or Dagan
- Department of Psychology, The New School for Social Research, New York, NY, United States.
| | - Christopher R Facompré
- Department of Psychology, New York University - Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Kristin Bernard
- Department of Psychology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
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