Extensive research on the impact of divorce on children has been conducted. Much of this research emphasizes negative findings. Debate over the factors that exacerbate or alleviate these negative findings exists, and prompted investigation in this literature review. Two factors that may determine how children will react to parental divorce are the child's developmental acuity and attachment style at the time of the divorce event. This review explains developmental tasks from a psychosocial and cognitive perspective for developing children from birth to age 18. An understanding of these models can be used to examine how children may be vulnerable to the stresses in a divorcing family, as well as identifying how to help children of all ages become resilient. Research included in this review suggests that a secure attachment and consistent parenting are the best buffers from negative effects. This literature review is intended to be a guide to aid parents, counselors, and other professionals who seek the best outcome for children of divorce. / text

Recent studies have shown that sexual functioning and sexually related personal distress are weakly related in women, with only a minority of sexual difficulties resulting in significant levels of distress. However, there has been little systematic research to date on which factors moderate the relationship between sexual functioning and sexual distress. Our aim was to assess the degree to which relational intimacy and attachment anxiety moderate the association between sexual functioning and sexual distress in college-age women. Two hundred women (mean age = 20.25) completed surveys assessing sexual functioning, relational intimacy, attachment anxiety, and sexual distress. Relational intimacy and attachment anxiety moderated the association between multiple aspects of sexual functioning and sexual distress. For lubrication and sexual pain, functioning was more strongly associated with distress in low-intimacy vs. high-intimacy relationships, but only for women with high levels of attachment anxiety. Results regarding desire were mixed and neither intimacy nor attachment anxiety interacted with subjective arousal or orgasm in predicting distress. We conclude that both relational intimacy and attachment anxiety are important moderators of the association between sexual functioning and subjective sexual distress in women. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed. / text

The goal of the current study was to examine the impact of mothers’ attachment classification on their ability to change their parenting beliefs and behaviors over the course of a parenting intervention program. Results indicated that in large part, this study did not support the idea that secure mothers would benefit more from a parenting intervention program than insecure mothers. However, treatment group placement was found to moderate the extent to which attachment security and time interact on level of permissiveness. Specifically, insecure mothers in the seminar plus hands-on condition significantly decreased in their permissiveness over time. Thus, insecure individuals benefit from parenting intervention programs when they have the opportunity to practice as well as learn the material presented to them. / text

This study seeks to explicate the impact of sex and gender in the relationships among attachment, romantic jealousy, and aggression. Attachment theory (e.g., Bowlby, 1969) posits that unique attachment styles develop based on experiences with primary caregiver(s). These attachment styles (e.g., secure, preoccupied, dismissing, and fearful) are enduring, and come to define attachment in adult romantic relationships (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1992; Hazan & Shaver, 1987). Attachment theory argues that differences in jealousy in adult romantic relationships are a function of attachment style (e.g., Guerrero, 1998). Similarly, attachment frameworks explain aggression (e.g., physical, verbal, and indirect/social/relational) as a function of attachment style, suggesting that these constructs (both aggression and jealousy) are borne from early childhood experiences. Theories that posit sex and gender differences, however, argue that aggression and jealousy are rooted in biological (i.e., sex-linked), evolutionary (i.e., adaptive), and social (i.e., learned) explanations of how men and women differ.This study aims to examine these theoretical perspectives in an attempt to further understand how differences between the two (attachment and sex/gender theories) can be explained. Results from this study indicate that sex and gender are unique, and do have differential effects on the relationships among attachment, aggression, and romantic jealousy in romantic relationships. Though the moderating effects of sex and gender are not always strong, findings from this study suggest that biology, evolution, and socialization likely interact and influence variability in attachment, aggression, and romantic jealousy.

The attachment and detachment of circulating tumor cells in a functionalized microchannel under hydrodynamic loading have been studied. For the cell attachment experiments, EpCAM antibodies are immobilized on the microchannel surface to capture either PC3N prostate or MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells from homogeneous cell suspensions. Using the same protocol, N-Cadherin antibodies are immoblilzed and used to study the detachment of target cancer cells captured in the microchannels.A critical flow rate Qc has been identified to characterize the kinetics of cell capture in a functionalized microchannel. Approaching one limit, when the receptor-ligand interaction dominates, more than 90% of moving cells can be captured and a sharp peak is observed in the spatial distribution of the captured cells. Approaching another limit, when hydrodynamic loading dominates, almost all cells cannot be captured in the channel. Between these two limits, there is a transition region in which both capture efficiency and cell distribution are sensitive to the flow parameters. Proper characteristic time and length scales have been identified to describe the cell spatial distribution using a log-normal statistical model. The kinetic details of cell capture are determined by the competition between the flow rate and the ligand-receptor association/dissociation rates.Additionally, the attachment dynamics of circulating tumor cells in a bio-functionalized microchannel under hydrodynamic loading has been explored. The target cells initially role along the microchannel with fluctuating velocity prior to firm adhesion. When a successful bond is established, the cancer cells require a certain length to come to a complete stop; this stopping length is found to depend linearly on the applied hydrodynamic flow rate. The force balance in the vertical cross stream direction is dominated by the gravitational force; as a result, all cells loaded into a microchannel intimately contact the functionalized channel bottom surface within a short time. The streamwise horizontal motion of the cells on the surface is dominated by the balance between the shear flow hydrodynamic loading and the receptor-ligand binding interaction. A linear spring element is incorporated in the physical model to represent the dynamics of a cancer cell captured by immobilized antibodies. Featuring a mobility matrix, a proposed theoretical model is utilized to estimate the binding and hydrodynamic forces acting on the cell in a microchannel. Inserting certain fitting parameters, the time evolution of a stopping cell is successfully predicted by a simplified exponential function.The mechanical response of a captured cancer cell to a hydrodynamic flow field is investigated and, in particular, the effect of flow acceleration is examined. The observed cell deformation is dramatic under low acceleration, but is negligible under high acceleration. Consequently, the detachment of captured cells depends on both flow rate and flow acceleration. The flow rate required for cell detachment is a random variable that can be described by a log-normal distribution. Two flow acceleration limits have been identified for proper scaling of the flow rate required to detach captured cells. A time constant on the order of 1min for the mechanical response of a captured cell has been identified for scaling the flow acceleration. Based on these acceleration limits and the time constant, an exponential-like empirical model is proposed to predict the flow rate required for cell detachment as a function of flow acceleration.

Access to abstract permanently restricted to Ball State community only. / Access to thesis permanently restricted to Ball State community only.

This study investigated the relationships among attachment styles, affect regulation, and outcome in a clinical sample receiving treatment for depression. Sixty-six clients completed questionnaire measures of adult attachment, dysfunctional attitudes, interpersonal problems, self-esteem, and depression. Clients’ levels of affect regulation were assessed with an observer-rated measure of affect regulation. The study’s purpose was to extend previous research by examining the relationship between adult attachment and affect regulation within a clinical context. Results indicated significant and positive associations between clients’ attachment security and their levels of affect regulation at early and late stages of psychotherapy. Late modulation of expression and arousal were found to mediate the relationship between pre-treatment attachment insecurity and outcome. Pre-treatment attachment avoidance, characterized by high discomfort with closeness, had a direct relationship with depressive symptoms not mediated by the cognitive-affective processes of affect regulation. Implications of present findings for the treatment of depression are discussed.

Tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti suaugusiųjų prieraišumo ir nerimastingumo bei depresiškumo sąsajas. Tyrime dalyvavo 273 Kauno miesto gyventojai, iš jų 181 (66,3%) moteris ir 92 (33,7%) vyrai. Tiriamųjų amžiaus vidurkis 35,19±11,28. Tyrime buvo naudotos metodikos: • Suaugusiųjų prieraišumo skalė (Multi – Item Measure of Ault Attachment, vėliau pavadinta - The Experiences in Close Relationships scale (ECR) K. Brennan et.al., 1998). • Zung depresijos skalė (Zung depression inventory, W.W. K. Zung et.al., 1965) • Būsenos- bruožo nerimo nustatymo metodikos nerimo kaip bruožo skalė (Trait Anxiety Inventory - Trait Form (Spielberger); • Rosenberg savivertės skalė (The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, Rosenberg, M., 1965). Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad saugiai prieraišiems asmenims būdingas mažiausiai išreikštas depresiškumas ir nerimastingumas, o baimingam - vengiančiam prieraišumo tipui – labiausiai išreikštas nerimastingumas ir depresiškumas. Tiriamųjų savivertė pilnai įtakoja depresiškumo ir prieraišumo sąsajas (pilnos mediacijos modelis), o nerimastingumo ir prieraišumo sąsajas įtakoja iš dalies (dalinės mediacijos modelis). / The aim of the study was to assess the connection between adult attachment, anxiety and depressiveness. The subjects of the study were 273 men and women (181 (66, 3 per cent) women and 92 (33,7 per cent) men. The mean of the age of subjects was 35, 19±11,28. These methods were used for investigation: • Multi – Item Measure of Adult Attachment or The Experiences in Close Relationships scale (ECR) K. Brennan et.al., 1998; • Zung depression inventory, W.W. K. Zung et.al., 1965; • Trait Anxiety Inventory - Trait Form (Spielberger); • The Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, M. Rosenberg, 1965. The results of the study showed that save attached subjects are least depressed and have least anxiety as trait. Disoriented subjects have are more depressed than other and have more anxiety as trait than the other subjects. Self – esteem of subjects is mediator of attachment and depressiveness connection (full mediation model) and mediator of attachment and anxiety as trait connection (part mediation model).

„Motinų jautrumo korekcijos analizė kūdikių prieraišumo kontekste“ SANTRAUKA Motinos jautrumo kūdikio signalams korekcija – palyginus naujas reiškinys, ypatingai Lietuvoje, tad šiuo tyrimu siekiama panagrinėti intervencijoje dalyvavusių motinų sąveikos su kūdikiais ypatumus, iškelti šiam procesui svarbius klausimus bei problemas, numatyti galimas ateities studijų kryptis. Pirmiausia siekiama panagrinėti motinų jautrumo pokyčius atliekant jautrumo korekciją. Kaip tyrimo problema keliamas klausimas – ar motinos jautrumas gali būti prognostinis kūdikio prieraišumo kokybės rodiklis. Taip pat norima aprašyti tyrime dalyvavusių motinų jautrumo, depresijos simptomų išreikštumo ir kasdienių rūpesčių vertinimo ypatumus bei palyginti jautrumo korekcijoje dalyvavusių ir nedalyvavusių motinų kūdikių prieraišumą. Šiame tyrime dalyvavo 35 motinų ir jų kūdikių poros. Dalis jų, t.y. 11 jautrių savo kūdikių signalams motinų sudarė vieną kontrolinę grupę; kitos – tai 24 mažai jautrios savo 6 mėnesių amžiaus kūdikių signalams motinos, atsitiktinai priskirtos vienai iš kitų dviejų - eksperimentei ar kontrolinei grupėms. Tad 10 iš jų dalyvavo vaizdo grįžtamuoju ryšiu paremtoje trumpalaikėje jautrumo korekcijos programoje, likusios (14) nedalyvavo. Po jautrumo korekcijos buvo įvertinti motinų jautrumo kūdikio signalams pokyčiai (Ainsworth motinos jautrumo skalė), depresijos simptomų išreikštumas (pagal Beck depresijos skalę), suvokiamo kasdienių rūpesčių vertinimo ypatumai (Kasdienių rūpesčių... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / „Mothers' Sensitivity Correction Analysis in the Context of Infants' Attachment“ SUMMARY Maternal sensitivity correction is fairly novel and unexplored field, especially in Lithuania, therefore the aim of this study is to explore mother-infant interaction characteristics after participation in sensitivity correction programme, to highlight important questions and problems, to predict possible directions for future investigations. Also it is sought to analyze maternal sensitivity changes after the correction programme. The problem of this study is a question – can maternal sensitivity be a prognostic indicator of a child attachment security. This study is also ment to describe the peculiarities of maternal sensitivity, expresiveness of depression syptomes, estimation of daily hassles and to compare their child attachment security according to their participation in intervention programme. 35 mother-infant dyads participated in this study. Part of them, that is 11 sensitive mothers constituted one control group; others – 24 that were rated as inconsistently sensitive or insensitive to their infants‘ signals, formed two other – experimental and control groups. 10 of them participated in a short-term sensitivity correction programme with video feedback, while others (14) didn‘t. The changes in maternal sensitivity (Ainsworth Maternal Sensitivity Scale) to the infants‘ signals, as well as mothers‘ perceived daily hassles (Daily Hassles Questionaire) and depressiveness (according... [to full text]

The current research argues that brand commitment, a multidimensional construct consisting of brand attachment, long-term orientation, and intent to persist, is a better indicator of brand relationship strength than brand attachment alone. Brand commitment is a better indicator of brand relationship strength because it is able to predict brand relationship persistence, is influenced by important antecedents of brand relationship strength, and can explain the relationship between the antecedents of brand relationship strength and relationship persistence while brand attachment cannot. The current research employs survey methodology, SEM, and a between-subjects experimental design to test this argument. The results indicate that brand commitment predicts relationship persistence and reveal that long-term orientation and intent to persist are important predictors of relationship persistence. These findings contribute to the consumer-brand relationship literature by illustrating the importance of understanding all three of components of brand commitment.