Spanish Validation of The Experiences in Close Relationships-Relationship Structures Questionnaire for Pre-adolescents

Abstract

This study aimed to validate the Spanish version of the Experiences in Close Relationships–Relationship Structures questionnaire (ECR–RS; Fraley et al., 2011). This instrument measures the two-dimensional structure of attachment (anxiety and avoidance) in different relational domains (mother, father, and friends). The sample was composed of 795 pre-adolescents (49.1% girls), aged 9–14 (M=12.86; SD=1.28), who were randomly selected from seven Biscayan schools. The participants completed the measures of attachment, prosocial behavior, emotional and behavioral problems, and difficulties in emotional regulation. The confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the Spanish adaptation of the ECR–RS supported the original two-factor structure and was invariant across genders. Both attachment dimensions were positively associated with emotional and behavioral problems, and difficulties in emotional regulation, and were negatively correlated with prosocial behavior. Gender differences were found in friends, mother, and global measures, in which boys scored higher than girls in anxiety and girls higher than boys in avoidance. This study demonstrated that the Spanish adaptation of the ECR–RS for pre-adolescents is a reliable and valid instrument to measure anxiety and avoidance attachment in different relational domains