J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc.  2012 Jul;51(4):147-155.

The Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of State Adult Attachment Measure

• Park SD
• Lee WK

Abstract

OBJECTIVES
Adult attachment is a relatively stable disposition, rooted in internal working models of self and relationship patterns. However, findings reported from recent research have suggested that levels of attachment anxiety, avoidance, and security are also affected by situational factors. The State Adult Attachment Measure (SAAM) was developed for the purpose of capturing temporary fluctuations in the sense of attachment security and insecurity. In this study, we examined the reliability and validity of the Korean version of the State Adult Attachment Measure (K-SAAM).
METHODS
K-SAAM, Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire-Revised (ECR-R), Relationship Questionnaire (RQ), Korean version of Positive Affective and Negative Affect Schedule (K-PANAS), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (R-DAS), and Toronto Alexithymia Scale 20-K (TAS 20-K) were administered to 180 subjects in the community. Exploratory factor analyses and correlation analyses among related variables were conducted.
RESULTS
Scores on the K-SAAM demonstrated high internal consistency, with corrected item-total correlations from .56 to .87. Results of exploratory factor analysis yielded three reliable subscales measuring state levels of attachment-related anxiety, avoidance, and security. Results of additional analyses demonstrated both convergent validity and discriminant validity of the K-SAAM.
CONCLUSION
The results reported here are highly supportive of the reliability, validity, and utility of the K-SAAM as a state measure of attachment. This new measure will allow clinicians to assess various temporary changes in attachment levels and to examine the efficacy of attachment-based psychotherapy. The K-SAAM has the potential to advance the field in understanding of the dynamics of adult attachment.

Keyword

Adult attachment; State; Trait; Exploratory factor analysis

MeSH Terms

Adult
Affective Symptoms
Anxiety
Appointments and Schedules
Depression
Humans
Psychotherapy
Surveys and Questionnaires
Reproducibility of Results

Reference

1. Ditzen B, Schmidt S, Strauss B, Nater UM, Ehlert U, Heinrichs M. Adult attachment and social support interact to reduce psychological but not cortisol responses to stress. J Psychosom Res. 2008. 64:479–486.

2. Collins NL, Read SJ. Adult attachment, working models, and relationship quality in dating couples. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1990. 58:644–663.

3. Bowlby J. Attachment and loss: Attachment. 1969. New York: Basic Books.

4. Bowlby J. Attachment and loss: Separation, anxiety and anger. 1973. New York: Basic Books.

5. Ainsworth MDS, Blehar MC, Waters E, Wall S. Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation. 1978. Hillsdale, NJ: Erlbaum.

6. Hazan C, Shaver P. Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1987. 52:511–524.

7. Bartholomew K, Horowitz LM. Attachment styles among young adults: a test of a four-category model. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1991. 61:226–244.

8. Brennan KA, Clark CL, Shaver PR. Simpson A, Roholes WA, editors. Self-report measurement of adult attachment. Attachment theory and close relationships. 1998. New York: Guilford Press.

9. George C, Kaplan M, Main M. Adult attachment interview protocol. 1996. 3rd ed. Berkeley: Unpublished manuscript, University of California.

10. Cozzarelli C, Karafa JA, Collins NL, Tagler MJ. Stability and change in adult attachment styles: associations with personal vulnerabilities, life event and global construals of self and others. J Soc Clin Psychol. 2003. 22:315–346.

11. Kirkpatrick LA, Hazan C. Attachment styles and close relationships: a four-year prospective study. Personal Relationships. 1994. 1:123–142.

12. Baldwin MW, Keelan JPR, Fehr B, Enns V, Koh-Rangarajoo E. Social-cognitive conceptualization of attachment working models: availability and accessibility effects. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1996. 71:94–109.

13. Gillath O, Hart J, Noftle EE, Stockdale GD. Development and validation of a state adult attachment measure (SAAM). J Res in Pers. 2009. 43:362–373.

14. Watson D, Clark LA, Tellegen A. Development and validation of brief measures of positive and negative affect: the PANAS scales. J Pers Soc Psychol. 1988. 54:1063–1070.

15. Spielberger CD. Manual for the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory(STAI). 1983. Palo Alto, CA: Consulting Psychologists Press.

16. Troisi A, D'Argenio A, Peracchio F, Petti P. Insecure attachment and alexithymia in young men with mood symptoms. J Nerv Ment Dis. 2001. 189:311–316.

17. Fraley RC, Waller NG, Brennan KA. An item response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment. J Pers Soc Psychol. 2000. 78:350–365.

18. Kim SH, Kim CD, Sherry A. Adaptation of the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised Scale into Korean: Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Item Response Theory Approaches. 2004. Seoul: Seoul National University;Dissertation for doctoral degree.

19. Jang HS. The comparison of a 3-group model with a 4-group model of adult attachment. Korean J Dev Psychol. 1997. 10:123–138.

20. Lee U. The effects of personality traits on mood level and its variability [dissertion]. 1994. Seoul: Chung Ang University.

21. Beck AT. Depression: Clinical, experimental, and theoretical aspects. 1967. New York: Harper & Row.

22. Lee YH, Song JY. A study of the reliability and the validity of the BDI, SDS, and MMPI-D scales. Korean J Clin Psychol. 1991. 10:98–113.

23. Kim JT. The relationship of trait anxiety and sociability. 1978. Seoul: Korea Univ.

24. Spanier GB. Measuring dyadic adjustment: new scales for assessing the quality of marriage and similar dyads. J Marriage Fam. 1976. 38:15–28.

25. Busby DM, Crane DR, Larson JH, Christensen C. A revision of the Dyadic Adjustment Scale for use with distressed and nondistressed couples: Construct hierarchy and multidimensional scales. J Marital Fam Ther. 1995. 21:289–308.

26. Choi SI. A study of the reliability and the validity of reversion of couple Dyadic Adjustment Scale. Go Hwang Non Jib, Kyung Hee Graduate School. 2004. 35:97–113.

27. Taylor GJ. Alexithymia: concept, measurement, and implications for treatment. Am J Psychiatry. 1984. 141:725–732.

28. Lee YH, Rim HD, Lee JY. Development & validation of a Korean version of the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale(TAS-20K). J Korean Neuropsychiatr Assoc. 1996. 35:888–899.

29. Hughes DA. Attachment-focused family therapy. 2007. New York: WW Norton.

30. Johnson SM, Whiffen V. Attachment Processes in Couples and Families. 2003. New York: Guilford Press.