An item response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment.

Abstract

Self-report measures of adult attachment are typically scored in ways (e.g., averaging or summing items) that can lead to erroneous inferences about important theoretical issues, such as the degree of continuity in attachment security and the differential stability of insecure attachment patterns. To determine whether existing attachment scales suffer from scaling problems, the authors conducted an item response theory (IRT) analysis of 4 commonly used self-report inventories: Experiences in Close Relationships scales Attachment theory is being used by an increasing number of researchers as a framework for investigating adult psychological dynamics. For instance, many researchers use this framework to study the continuity of close-relationship patterns over time

Attachment, Sexual Assertiveness, and Sexual Outcomes in Women with Provoked Vestibulodynia and Their Partners: A Mediation Model

“…One score for each dimension was computed by averaging items of each subscale, higher scores indicating higher attachment anxiety and avoidance. Fraley et al (2000) have provided evidence for the reliability and validity of the ECR-R. In the current sample, Cronbach's alphas were .90 and .83 for the anxiety subscale, and .86 and .81 for the avoidant subscale, for women and men respectively.…”

“…The two dimensions of romantic attachment were measured using the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale-Revised (ECR-R) (Fraley, Waller, & Brennan, 2000). This 36-item scale consists of two 18-item subscales assessing anxiety about rejection and avoidance of intimacy.…”

Italian translation and cross-cultural comparison with the Childhood Attachment and Relational Trauma Screen (CARTS)

“…The ECR-R (Fraley, Waller, & Brennan, 2000) is a revised version of Brennan, Clark, and Shaver’s (1998) original ECR questionnaire. It consists of 18 items that measure anxiety and 18 items assessing avoidance (Sibley & Liu, 2004).…”

An IRT analysis of motive questionnaires: The Unified Motive Scales

“…We aimed to demonstrate that the UMS intimacy scale is related to, without being redundant with, established personality constructs in the area of close relationships. Therefore, we assessed five scales related to close relationships: two dimensions of attachment style (attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety; Fraley et al, 2000), the desire for closeness to the partner and the desire to be alone (Hagemeyer, Neyer, Neberich, & Asendorpf, 2012), as well as a pictorial measure of closeness (Aron, Aron, & Smollan, 1992). Furthermore, we asked participants who were currently involved in a romantic relationship about their relationship satisfaction.…”

“…We have termed the fear component of the intimacy motive fear of losing emotional contact. This fear is captured by items such as "When I lose emotional contact with my beloved, I get nervous" and conceptually has some resemblance to the concept of attachment anxiety (Fraley, Waller, & Brennan, 2000).…”