title: The Brief Accessibility, Responsiveness, and Engagement Scale: A Tool for Measuring Attachment Behaviors in Clinical Couples.
abstract: Measuring attachment behaviors is relevant to creating secure couple relationships. This article seeks to test and examine the reliability and validity of the Brief Accessibility, Responsiveness, and Engagement (BARE) Scale-a practical measure of couple attachment-in a clinical sample. Couples took the BARE and other assessments measuring relationship functioning (self and partner reports of relationship satisfaction, relationship stability, positive and negative communication, and attachment styles). Results suggest that the BARE appears to be a reliable and valid tool for assessing couple attachment and can accurately predict and classify whether the couples belong in the clinical or nonclinical group, as well as their level of relationship satisfaction. Results also indicate attachment behaviors are related to relationship outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University.
authors.forename: Jonathan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Sandberg
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University.
authors.forename: Joshua R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University.
authors.forename: Stephanie Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Davis
authors.affiliation: Brigham Young University.
authors.forename: Dean M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Busby
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires / Q000592:standards*