Journal of Families and Better Life (가정과삶의질연구)

Korean Home Management Association (가정과삶의질학회)
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Adult Attachment Styles across Close Relationships among Korean College Students: A Latent Profile Analysis

대학생의 애착인물별 성인애착 수준 유형화: 잠재프로파일 분석

  • Kim, Jueun (Department Consumer and Family Sciences, Sungkyunkwan University) ;
  • Lee, Jaerim (Department of Child Development and Family Studies/Research Institute of Human Ecology, Seoul National University)
  • Received : 2015.05.15
  • Accepted : 2015.08.13
  • Published : 2015.08.31
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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to identify the latent styles of attachment across four major attachment figures (i.e., father, mother, best friend, and romantic partner) for Korean emerging adults. In this study, adult attachment had two dimensions (i.e., attachment anxiety and avoidance) and was measured by the Experiences in Close Relationships-Relationship Structures (ECR-RS). Data came from 317 undergraduate students in nine universities across the nation. A latent profile analysis classified the sample into four groups. (a) The "somewhat father avoidant secure" group reported the lowest levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance across close relationships but was moderately avoidant in their relationship with the father. (b) The "overall avoidant" group had the highest levels of attachment avoidance across close relationships, but along with the "father avoidant secure" group, they had the lowest levels of attachment anxiety. (c) The "romantic anxious" group was unique with the highest level of attachment anxiety toward romantic partners while reporting relatively lower levels of attachment avoidance across relationships. (d) The "overall anxious-avoidant" group was the highest in attachment anxiety and avoidance across all of their close relationships except for attachment avoidance from best friends and romantic partners, which were the highest among the "overall avoidant" group. These four groups also differed in their levels of depressive symptoms and affection for the father and the mother. This study uniquely contributes to the literature by identifying the latent attachment styles considering four attachment figures and examining the characteristics of these attachment styles.

Keywords

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