Effects of attachment-focused versus relationship skills-focused group interventions for college students with insecure attachment patterns.
This study tested the attachment issues segment of Kilmann's (1996) manualized attachment-focused (AF) group intervention. College students with insecure adult attachment patterns were randomly assigned into either a manualized attachment-focused group or into a manualized relationship skills-focused (RS) group. A no-intervention control condition (NC) was recruited in the same manner. Between pre- and post-testing, AF and RS participants reported decreased agreement with dysfunctional relationship beliefs. AF participants also reported higher self-esteem, decreased angry reaction, and increased control of anger. RS participants reported improved interpersonal styles. At the 15-18-month follow-up, AF and RS participants reported increased self-awareness and positive relationship expectations and experiences, while NC participants reported no positive changes.
Department of Psychology, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208, USA. Kilmann@sc.edu
Peter R
PR
Kilmann
Geoffrey C
GC
Urbaniak
Michele M
MM
Parnell
D000328:Adult; D000786:Anger; D001364:Awareness; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D009769:Object Attachment; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods*; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities