Secure Attachment Representation in Adolescence Buffers Heart-Rate Reactivity in Response to Attachment-Related Stressors

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.

The Interplay of Oxytocin and Attachment in Schizophrenic Patients: An fMRI Study

“…Participants were administered with the fMRI-adapted version of the AAP [ 94 ] (test-retest reliability: Pearson’s r = 0.70, p < 0.001); 84% of the retest sample was classified in the same main categories). The AAP is a well-validated measure [ 32 , 95 , 96 , 97 , 98 ] that assesses adult attachment mental representation. This measure was used in two ways.…”

“…The AAP has demonstrated solid psychometric properties, including test-retest reliability, inter-judge reliability, and convergent and discriminant validity [ 32 , 96 , 97 , 99 ].…”

Personality Disorders and Attachment Trauma in Adolescent Patients with Psychiatric Disorders

“…What might happen next? The psychometric properties of the AAP have been tested in a number of studies in adults and adolescents demonstrating a good discriminant validity, inter-rater reliability, test-retest reliability (84% remained in the same attachment category after 3 months; κ = 0.78, p < .001) (Gander et al, 2017 ; George & Buchheim, 2014 ; George & West, 2012 ) and a high convergent validity with the AAI (94%, κ = 0.89 with a 95% narrow confidence interval [0.680, 1.100], p < .001 for the two group classifications (resolved-unresolved) (Buchheim et al, 2018 ; Gander et al, 2022 ). Based on different coding dimensions, the attachment narratives can be classified into four attachment categories: secure ( F ) narratives are characterized by thoughtful self-exploration and mutual enjoyment in attachment relationships, insecure-dismissing ( Ds ) narratives demonstrate a lot of distance in relationships (i.e.…”

Identifying Risk and Resilience Factors in the Intergenerational Cycle of Maltreatment: Results From the TRANS-GEN Study Investigating the Effects of Maternal Attachment and Social Support on Child Attachment and Cardiovascular Stress Physiology

“…Studies demonstrate good psychometric properties of the AAP in adults (Buchheim et al, 2008;Benoit et al, 2010;George and West, 2012) and adolescents (Gander et al, 2017) by showing high inter-rater reliability (George and West, 2001;Buchheim et al, 2008;Benoit et al, 2010), discriminant validity in controls and clinical patients and test-retest reliability West, 2001, 2012). Also, a high concurrent validity with the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI; George et al, 1985;Main and Goldwyn, 1998) was demonstrated in several independent samples (George and West, 2012;Gander et al, 2022).…”