Attachment, skin deep? Relationships between adult attachment and skin barrier recovery

Abstract

This study examined the relationship between individual differences in adult attachment and skin barrier recovery. Dating couples (N = 34) completed a self-report measure of attachment anxiety and avoidance, and during two separate laboratory visits, normal skin barrier function was disrupted using a tape-stripping procedure, followed by a 20 min discussion of personal concerns in one visit and relationship problems in the other, counterbalanced randomly across visits. Skin barrier recovery was assessed by measuring transepidermal water loss up to 2 h after skin disruption. Multilevel modeling showed that skin barrier recovery did not differ between the personal concern or relationship problem discussions. Among women, greater attachment anxiety predicted faster skin barrier recovery across the two visits, while greater attachment avoidance predicted slower skin barrier recovery. Among men, greater attachment anxiety predicted slower skin barrier recovery during the personal concern discussion only. The observed effects remained significant after controlling for transepidermal water loss in undisturbed skin, suggesting that the relationship between attachment security and skin barrier recovery was not due to other skin-related factors like sweating. Cortisol changes, self-reported emotions, stress appraisals, and supportiveness ratings were tested as potential mediators, and none explained the relationships between attachment and skin barrier recovery. These findings are the first to demonstrate associations between individual differences in attachment style and restorative biological processes in the skin, even in a sample of young dating couples in satisfied relationships.

Using a Mendelian randomization approach to explore a causal relationship between vitamin D and nonmelanoma skin cancer

“…While observational studies have reported that higher vitamin D levels are associated with NMSC risks, evidence from animal and in vitro studies supports antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of vitamin D on keratinocytes, which may protect against NMSC. 4,5 Winsløw et al's findings, showing no causal association between genetically defined 25(OH)D levels and NMSCs, are consistent with previous reports that higher prediagnostic serum 25(OH)D levels are associated with NMSC risk. 6 The clinical implication of their work is that higher serum vitamin D levels may not play a role in primary NMSC prevention.…”

Attachment and health-related physiological stress processes

“…In another study, more avoidantly attached women recovered more slowly from induced skin wounds over the course of discussions with their dating partner. In addition, more anxiously attached men showed slower wound recovery, but unexpectedly, more anxiously attached women showed faster recovery [51]. Other work further supports a link between anxious attachment and poorer immune function: Anxiously attached husbands and wives evidenced fewer T-cells over two days (together with higher cortisol levels) [30], and anxiously attached individuals showed elevated antibody titers to the Epstein-Barr virus on two tests one year apart [52].…”

Personality, Relationships, and Health

“…As adults, our romantic partners may not place a literal bandage on our injuries, but as Robles and Kane () explain, our attachment styles impact our physical health—even wound healing. For example, following a stressful discussion, the speed at which our minor physical wounds heal can be predicted from our adult attachment style (Robles, Brooks, Kane, & Dunkel Schetter, ). In addition to this study, Robles and Kane provide a comprehensive review of studies conducted in their own and other researchers' laboratories, which vividly demonstrate how adult attachment might impact not just our minor, physical injuries, but more substantial aspects of our physiology and physical health.…”