In the last decade, global instability has led to higher demands placed on military members and their families, especially in the area of deployment. Longer and more frequent deployments have had significant psychological consequences on soldiers who have been deployed. Deployment has also been shown to negatively impact child adjustment; however, the research in this area is limited, particularly within a Canadian military context. The purpose for the two current studies was to examine specific areas of child adjustment affected by military status, particularly deployment, and to explore potential pathways through which this impact occurs. Study 1 included an examination of the effect of military status on maternal depressive symptoms, parental stress, and marital satisfaction, as well as on the quality of the child's attachment to the parent at home. Further analyses were conducted to determine if maternal well-being mediated the effect of military status on attachment, and if there was a moderating role of social support on these associations. In Study 2, the unique role of military status in predicting reported behaviour problems over and above what was accounted for by child attachment and parental stress was explored. Findings from these studies revealed an association between deployment and higher levels of insecure attachment; and although deployment modestly predicted maternal depressive symptoms, there was no mediating effect found for maternal well-being. Furthermore, while insecure attachment and higher levels of parental stress were associated with elevated behaviour problems, deployment uniquely predicted conduct problems, internalizing problems, and total behaviour problems. Findings from the current studies add a valuable contribution to the limited available literature on how deployment affects young children in military families. Moreover these findings provide a basis in which to direct further research, and to also guide the development and implementation of interventions to support at-risk children in military families.

In this doctoral thesis, a culturally-sensitive couple therapy model was developed and empirically investigated. In particular, a Western-based couple therapy, Emotionally-Focused Couple Therapy (EFT), was modified to enhance the cultural relevancy of this model to the Japanese population. An extensive literature review was conducted to examine the status of psychotherapy and couple research in Japan, and cultural differences between Western and Japanese couples, with a particular emphasis on important couple variables, including emotional expression, communication, conflict resolution, and attachment. Study objectives included an empirical investigation into cultural differences on key relationship variables of trust, attachment, communication, and conflict resolution, and the use of these findings to guide adaptations of EFT to enhance cultural relevance, and an exploration of the adapted EFT model with three Japanese couples. This study is significant in that it is the first to empirically evaluate the cross-cultural validity of EFT. This dissertation consists of two studies that have been combined in one article for the purpose of publishing the document in a Japanese journal. Both studies were combined in one article for various reasons. First, study one findings are integral to the development of the culturally-sensitive EFT model that is empirically investigated in the second study. Second, the article included in this dissertation will be translated and prepared for publication in a Japanese journal. Including both studies in one article is important given the lack of familiarity in the Japanese research community about key relationship variables, and particularly their applicability to a couple therapy system (i.e., EFT), and their use to measure change in a couple therapy outcome study.

Introduction: Research indicates that children with an intellectual disability [ID] are at an increased risk of developing attachment difficulties and subsequent affect regulation difficulties. Attachment theory may further understanding of the risk factors for individuals with an ID experiencing mental health problems, challenging behaviour and emotional difficulties. However, there is a paucity of research into attachment and adults with ID and there is a lack of valid and reliable measures for assessing attachment security for this group. The Manchester Attachment Scale-Third Party Observational Measure [MAST] was developed to assess degree of secure attachment behaviour for adults with ID and the current study examined the psychometric properties of the MAST. Method: Professional carers [N=40] supporting individuals with an ID completed the MAST and other measures related to the construct of attachment theory (subscales of the Edward Zigler-Yale Personality Questionnaire[EZPQ] and Emotional Rating Scale [ERS] as well as the Learning Disability Casemix Scale [LDCS) regarding individuals with an ID they were supporting [N=57]. Individuals with an ID [N=14] completed the Self-report Assessment of Attachment Security [SRAAS]. Results: The MAST was found to have good internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The convergent validity of the MAST was indicated by positive correlation with the EZPQ subscales (negative reaction tendency, obedience, positive reaction tendency and outerdirectedness) and scores on the SRAAS. The MAST was found to be correlated with both levels of ID and presence of challenging behaviour as measured by LDCS scores. Conclusion: These current results provide preliminary support for the reliability and validity of the MAST as a measure of secure attachment behaviour for adults with ID. The results provide support for previous research that indicates a relationship between attachment security and level of ID and challenging behaviour. The results of the study and the implications of attachment theory for adults with ID are discussed.

This thesis explored attachment in individuals with intellectual disability (ID). It investigated the role that attachment may have in presenting difficulties, including trauma symptoms, which has a growing body of literature, particularly in people without ID. Paper 1 describes a systematic review of the available literature relating to the psychological well-being of young people with ID in the UK who are 'looked after children' (LAC) or who live away from their birth families. Evidence suggests that both LAC and people with ID, may be vulnerable to developing mental health difficulties. However, there is a paucity of research investigating the psychological well-being of young people with ID who are LAC or who live away from birth families. 17 studies were reviewed, which ranged between 21% and 71% in quality as measured by the QATSDD (Sirriyeh, Lawton, Gardner, & Armitage, 2012). . Only one study was found that directly focused on the psychological well-being of LAC with an ID. The available studies offered some insights into the prevalence, characteristics of young people with ID who are LAC or who live away from their birth families and some of the psychological difficulties they encounter. However, given the methodological limitations of the included studies, no firm conclusions could be drawn. Paper 2 describes an empirical study that investigated the relationship between attachment security and trauma symptoms in adults with ID. 27 staff and service users participated in the research. Service user participants completed a self-report questionnaire regarding trauma symptoms with the researcher and staff participants provided demographic information and completed questionnaires that measured attachment security, trauma symptoms, depressive mood and traumatic events in relation to the service user. No relationship was found between attachment security and trauma symptoms. However, it provided tentative evidence with respect to the type of traumatic events experienced by people with ID and of the prevalence of mental health difficulties in people with ID. There were however several methodological limitations, including a small sample size. Implications for future research and clinical practice are outlined. Paper 3 provides a critical and personally reflective account of undertaking the systematic review and empirical study as outlined above. Strengths and limitations of the research are interwoven throughout. Recommendations for future research and implications for practice are also considered.

Examines the relationship between early maternal attachment security and verbal emotional expression in males. Participants were 115 male college students aged 18 to 25 years (M=20.0 yrs.) who completed a questionnaire comprised of two measures of early maternal attachment security, two measures of emotional expression, and demographic items. Results showed a low to moderate relationship between early attachment security and verbal emotional expression.

We investigated spouses’ ability to engage in a positive interaction following relationship conflict, a process that involves skills in recovering from distress and reconnecting with one’s partner. The quality of positive interactions was hypothesized to vary as a function of attachment and have implications for marital satisfaction. Newlywed couples discussed a conflict in their relationship followed by a discussion of positive aspects of their relationship. We hypothesized and found that greater attachment avoidance in husbands predicted less positive behavior in both partners during the positive interaction. Additionally, wives’ positive behavior predicted both partners’ relationship satisfaction, even above and beyond caregiving and careseeking behavior during the conflict. The findings point to the importance of examining not only how couples discuss conflicts, but also how they behave in the aftermath of those discussions.

Biofouling is a significant economic problem, particularly for marine and offshore oil industries. The acorn barnacle (Amphibalanus (Balanus) amphitrite) is the main biofouling organism in marine environments. Environmental conditions, the physiology of the biofouling organism, the surrounding microbial community, and the properties of the substratum can all influence the attachment of biofouling organisms to substrates. My dissertation investigated the biological processes involved in B. amphitrite development and attachment in the unique environment of the Red Sea, where the average water surface temperature is 34°C and the salinity reaches 41‰. I profiled the transcriptome and proteome of B. amphitrite at different life stages (nauplius II, nauplius VI, and cyprid) and identified 65,784 expressed contigs and 1387 expressed proteins by quantitative proteomics. During the planktonic stage, genes related to osmotic stress, salt stress, the hyperosmotic response, and the Wnt signaling pathway were strongly up-regulated, hereas genes related to the MAPK pathway, lipid metabolism, and cuticle development were down-regulated. In the transition from the nauplius VI to cyprid stages, there was up-regulation of genes involved in blood coagulation, cuticle development, and eggshell formation, and down-regulation of genes in the nitric oxide pathway, which stimulates the swimming and feeding responses of marine invertebrates. This system-wide integrated approach elucidated the development and attachment pathways important in B. amphitrite. Enzymes and metabolites in these pathways are potential molecular targets for the development of new antifouling compounds.

<p>Attachment and personality disorders (PDs) both describe patterns of interpersonal dysfunction. Indeed, there are many similarities and few differences between these constructs, suggesting that they may represent two iterations of a common dimension. However, the paucity of empirical tests on this topic has precluded integration of clinical efforts. Also limiting clinical efforts is the inability to target individuals and relationships most prone to dysfunction. The current study used a large sample (N=812) of unselected undergraduates (N=355) and adults currently in psychological treatment (N=457) to test whether a joint hierarchical factor structure of attachment and PDs is tenable and whether it varies reliably by gender, treatment status, or attachment figure. Results suggested that attachment and PDs can be quantified jointly in specific instances of emotional lability and detachment, but attachment was not isomorphic with antagonistic, impulsigenic, or psychosis-spectrum traits. This joint structure was relatively consistent across attachment figures and treatment status but varied somewhat across gender. Clinical applications of these findings on commonalities of interpersonal dysfunction are discussed. </p>

Dating violence among college students has become a pressing concern. However, to date, the bulk of the research in this area has attempted to discern correlates of marital violence. Little research has been paid to the isolation of predictors of violence that occurs early in the relationship. This paper demonstrates the utility of several risk factors identified among male college students in predicting dating violence. Factors included are history of abuse in the family of origin; insecure attachment style as measured by parental attachment and girlfriend attachment; attributional style; anger; and depression. Though it is likely that many other factors predict male dating violence, this study aims to isolate those factors that operate within the framework of history of abuse and insecure attachment. Results indicated the following: 1. History of abuse accounted for a substantial portion of the variance in predicting dating violence. 2. The interaction of attachment to family and partner was related to verbal aggression and abuse toward and from the partner. 3. Attributional style did not significantly predict dating violence beyond history of abuse. 4. Depression was not significantly related to dating violence; however, anger was significantly and directly related to verbal aggression and overall abuse from self toward partner. 5. Results were also discussed in terms of the four abuse criteria, including some notable findings regarding partner attachment style and direction of abuse. In addition, implications for treatment and prevention and suggestions for future research were offered. / Master of Science

Over 50% of marriages in the United States end in divorce. Researchers have attempted to identify factors that help marriages endure by studying personality, attachment styles, and gender. However, few researchers have examined how dyadic interactions of personality types and attachment types influence marital satisfaction. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of enneagram personality types on marital satisfaction within 3 groups of attachment types: couples who (a) both demonstrate a secure attachment style, (b) contain one member who demonstrates an insecure attachment style and the other who demonstrates a secure attachment style, and (c) both demonstrate an insecure attachment style. Grounded in attachment theory, interpersonal theory, and the enneagram, complementary personality types should relate to greater global marital satisfaction, independent from attachment style. This cross-sectional study used the Riso-Hudson Enneagram Type Indicator, the Satisfaction With Married Life Scale, and the Revised Adult Attachment Scale to collect data from 324 married couples. A factorial ANOVA indicated that couples having one or both partners who exhibit a secure attachment style have significantly greater global marital satisfaction scores than if both partners have an insecure attachment style. Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences in global marital satisfaction scores among couples who exhibit any enneagram personality type. Additionally, the interaction effect of enneagram personality types and attachment types were not statistically significant for global marital satisfaction. Therapists can integrate these results with their current model of treatment when working with couples toward forming an earned secure attachment, thereby, improving the effectiveness of couple therapy which may create systemic social change.