Anxious attachment may be a vulnerability factor for developing embitterment.
By predisposing to ego-defensive strategies in social situations, a negative attachment history may promote embitterment. The present study identified attachment anxiety - more than attachment avoidance - as a possible vulnerability factor for the development and maintenance of embitterment. This factor should be considered in theories and in interventions of embitterment.
Department of Clinical and Health Psychology, Utrecht University, The Netherlands. d.blom1@uu.nl
David
D
Blom
Henriët
H
van Middendorp
Rinie
R
Geenen
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology*; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D004532:Ego; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires