Two Dimensions of Adult Attachment: Further Validation

Abstract

The present study used confirmatory factor analysis to identify two dimensions of adult attachment, analogous to infant attachment theory, using items derived from Hazan & Shaver's (1987) widely used self-report measure. Subjects were 571 private university or community college students. Results indicated that a two-dimensional model best fits the data, that a three-dimensional model fits slightly less well and was simply less parsimonious, and that a one-dimensional model fits less than adequately. The same two-dimensional model fits both married and non-married adults. Loneliness, dating frequency, and dating/marital status showed a different pattern of correlations with the two attachment dimensions. Heterosexual confidence and parental divorce, although correlated with attachment dimensions, did not produce significantly different patterns of correlation with the two dimensions.

Keywords

attachment romantic relationships validation

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