Attachment in the time of COVID-19: Insecure attachment orientations are associated with defiance of authorities’ guidelines during the pandemic

Abstract

Previous research has linked people’s relational attachment orientations to emotional reactions and coping during crises, and to social trust and trust in societal institutions. The COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis for which collective efforts, such as social distancing, are necessary to stop the spread of the virus. During previous pandemics, people high in trust have typically adhered to such efforts. In the present study, we investigated whether attachment orientations were related to people’s adherence to authorities’ guidelines to stop the spread of COVID-19. We also tested whether previous mediational findings—linking attachment-related avoidance to welfare state trust via social trust—would replicate. We used a web-based survey of 620 participants. Our findings showed that attachment-related anxiety was linked to low adherence to social distancing regulations. This finding was especially noteworthy because high attachment-anxious participants also experienced more negative emotions, yet negative emotions were generally linked to high adherence. Thus, people higher in attachment anxiety seem to have more difficulties in avoiding social situations despite heightened risk of catching and spreading the virus. In addition, attachment-related avoidance was negatively related to adherence and to welfare state trust, and its effects on welfare state trust were statistically mediated by low social trust.

Toward a causal link between attachment styles and mental health during the COVID‐19 pandemic

“…In contrast to our hypothesis, we found that avoidant individuals were significantly less likely to follow social distancing guidelines compared to secure individuals. Indeed, recent research has also found the same pattern (Brulin et al, 2022;Lozano & Fraley, 2021). In our study, however, there was only a small (2%) difference between avoidant and secure individuals, which is not likely to be meaningful behaviourally.…”

Psychological distress caused by COVID-19 on Indian immigrants with temporary visas working in retail industries in Auckland, New Zealand

“…It was John Bowlby, a British psychologist, who first proposed the attachment theory to define and explain the interactions between newborns and their carers (Bowlby, 1980;Brulin et al, 2022). However, it was later expanded to include adult intimate relationships and emotional wellness (Brulin et al, 2022;Hazan & Shaver, 1987).…”

Individual difference predictors of starting a new romantic relationship during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…However, there is some heterogeneity in whether attachment anxiety is associated with risky behavior during COVID-19. For example, although anxious individuals might be more likely to encourage some asocial health behaviors (e.g., handwashing), they also adhere less to social health behaviors (e.g., they violate social distancing regulations; Gruneau Brulin et al, 2022 ). Regardless, anxious' individuals' preoccupation with close others and their relationships would likely motivate them to find new relationships.…”

“…As a result, we anticipated that anxious individuals might be more likely to start a relationship during the pandemic, given their need for constant reassurance and support from other people ( Mikulincer & Shaver, 2003 ). Avoidant individuals, on the other hand, were less likely to encourage preventative health behavior ( Gruneau Brulin et al, 2022 ). This might lead to the prediction that they might meet and date new people during the pandemic.…”