Adult Attachment, Social Adjustment, and Well-Being in Drug-Addicted Inpatients

Bibliographic Data

ID13669389
AuthorsElisa Delvecchio (0000-0003-3519-5445, University of Padua, corresponding author), Daniela Di Riso (0000-0002-3759-0441, University of Padua), Adriana Lis (0000-0003-4080-4137, University of Padua), Silvia Salcuni (0000-0002-1798-5761, University of Padua)
Year2016
Volume118
Issue2
Pages587-607
Publication date2016-04-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePsychological Reports (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0033-2941 • E-ISSN: 1558-691X
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/0033294116639181
PMID27154381
OpenAlexW2345712225
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited46

In recent years, attachment studies have gathered overwhelming evidence for a relation between insecure attachment and drug addiction. The existing literature predominantly addresses attachment styles and little attention is given to attachment-pattern-oriented studies. The current study explored how attachment, social adjustment, and well-being interact in 40 (28 men, 12 women; ages 20-52 years, M = 32.3, SD = 9.4) inpatients with drug addiction. The Adult Attachment Projective Picture System (AAP), the Social Adjustment Scale-Self-report (SAS-SR), and the General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) were administered. Descriptive statistics were computed as well as differences between patterns of attachment in all variables were measured. None of the inpatients showed a secure attachment pattern: 7 scored as dismissing (18%), 5 preoccupied (12%) and 28 unresolved (70%). AAP stories were mainly connected with themes of danger, lack of protection, and helplessness. Inpatients classified as unresolved reported significantly higher maladjustment on the SAS-SR and GHQ-28 than those with resolved attachment patterns. Implications for clinicians and researchers are presented

Addiction · Developmental psychology · Drug · Psychiatry · Psychotherapist · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Clinical Psychology · Family Caregiving in Mental Illness · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Psychology