Attachment-Related Differences in Emotion Regulation in Adults: A Systematic Review on Attachment Representations

Summary & key facts

This paper is a systematic review of 37 studies with 2,006 adults that looked at how an adult's attachment representation relates to how they regulate emotions. The authors only included studies that used the Adult Attachment Interview or the Adult Attachment Projective to assess attachment. Across four objective measurement types (autonomic nervous system, brain activity, biochemistry, and nonverbal behavior) they found a consistent link: secure attachment is tied to balanced emotion regulation, while insecure and unresolved attachments show impaired or dysfunctional emotion regulation.

Key facts:

• The review included 37 peer-reviewed studies with a total of 2,006 participants.
• Only studies using the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI) or the Adult Attachment Projective (AAP) were included to assess unconscious attachment representation.
• Emotion regulation was measured across four objective approaches: autonomic nervous system, brain activity, biochemistry, and nonverbal behavior.
• Across these measurements, secure attachment was consistently related to balanced emotion regulation.
• Unresolved attachment was associated with counterintuitive responses and a failure to use attachment figures as a resource during stress.
• Insecure-dismissing attachment showed an emotionally deactivating strategy (appearing to downplay emotions), but physiological, biochemical, and nonverbal signs of emotional stress were still present.
• The authors noted a lack of studies examining preoccupied attachment, and they discussed risk of bias and limits of the available evidence.

Abstract

In recent years, there has been an increase in the prevalence of mental disorders connected with affective dysregulation and insecure attachment. Therefore, it is even more important to understand the interplay between an individual's attachment representation and patterns of emotion regulation. To our knowledge, this is the first systematic review to examine this association. PsycInfo, PsyArticles, and PubMed were searched for studies that examined attachment-related differences in emotion regulation in adults. To examine the unconscious attachment representation, only studies using the Adult Attachment Interview or the Adult Attachment Projective Picture System were included. Thirty-seven peer-reviewed studies (with a total of 2006 subjects) matched the PICO criteria. Emotion regulation was measured via four objective approaches: autonomic nervous system, brain activity, biochemistry, or nonverbal behavior. Across all measurements, results reveal a significant correlation between attachment representation and emotion regulation. Secure attachment correlates consistently with balanced emotion regulation, whereas it is impaired in insecure and dysfunctional in unresolved attachment. Specifically, unresolved individuals display counterintuitive responses and fail to use attachment as a resource. Insecure-dismissing attachment is associated with an emotionally deactivating strategy, while on a physiological, biochemical, and nonverbal level, emotional stress is still present. There is still a lack of studies examining preoccupied individuals. In addition to interpreting the results, we also discuss the risk of bias, implications for psychotherapy and coaching, and an outlook for future research.

Topics

Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes Attachment and Relationship Dynamics Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development

Categories

Psychology Social Psychology Social Sciences

Tags

Attachment measures Attachment theory Clinical psychology Developmental psychology Dysfunctional family Emotional regulation Insecure attachment Law MEDLINE Nonverbal communication Political science Psychology PsycINFO

Conditions & symptoms

Anxiety Depression PTSD Anxiety or worry Feeling disconnected from others Sadness or low mood