We have examined how the dependence, identity and social bonds affect customer loyalty and attachment to a training centre. The method used is a survey on SATS Karlstad city where 128 respondents were asked, out of which 118 surveys were used in the final analysis. The data was analyzed using ANCOVA and multiple regressions. The result showed significant relationships on attachment between identity and dependence. Social bonds had no significant effect on the attachment a member have towards training centre. Customer loyalty was measured by how long the individual has been a member and his or her training frequency. Social bonds had a significant relationship to the duration of membership, which suggests that friends and family have an effect on how long the membership is going to remain. Identity had a significant relationship to training frequency, suggesting that the more individuals associate themselves with the training center the more often they workout.

The main objective of this thesis was to identify facilitators of strong maternal affective attachment bonds to children. First, a systematized review of the literature was conducted to gather and synthesize all the research over the last 25 years that has identified correlates and predictors of maternal affective attachment. The review found 26 articles relevant to the research question, and main findings from the existing literature were summarized. The main study of the thesis was built upon the findings of the review using data collected through an online survey of Canadian mothers. First, a latent profile analysis (LPA) was used to cluster mothers into maternal profiles based on their patterns of responses to measures of previously identified correlates and predictors of the maternal affective attachment; symptom distress related to symptoms of depression and anxiety, the dimensions of avoidance and anxiety in mothers’ adult romantic attachment, and mothers’ sense of parental efficacy and satisfaction in the maternal role. Then, a MANOVA was conducted to determine whether profile membership would account for a significant portion of the variance in the maternal affective attachment bond to children. Results indicated that maternal profiles characterized by lower symptom distress, lower romantic attachment avoidance and anxiety, and higher efficacy and satisfaction in the parental role reported higher affective attachment, and perceived more closeness and less conflict in their relationships with their children. The results of this thesis help to inform the scholarship of motherhood by identifying salient maternal experiences associated with positive family outcomes.

Compulsive hoarding refers to the excessive acquisition of possessions, difficulty in discarding items, and the accumulation of clutter (Frost & Hartl, 1996). Since hoarding involves strong emotional attachments to objects, hoarding may be conceptualized as an attachment-related disorder. According to attachment theory (Bowlby, 1969), insecure attachment to others can occur when close relationships do not provide a sense of safety and security. This study explores a mediational model, whereby insecure attachment influences hoarding through the joint effect of relationship satisfaction, attachment to objects, and saving cognitions. A large community sample of adults (N = 1341) completed online measures. Assessment of the mediational model used an ordinary least-squares analytic framework to estimate direct and indirect effects, and bootstrap methods to obtain confidence intervals. Results provide support for the proposed mediational model. Similarities and differences between insecure attachment styles are discussed, as well as clinical implications for the treatment of hoarding. / October 2016

This study examined the association between individual attachment and interactive conflict styles and the overall influence on marital satisfaction in 207 married individuals. The application of attachment theory to this study of adult romantic relationships was established via factor analysis and yielded two dimensions: self (anxiety) and other (avoidance). Accommodation and demand-withdraw were the two forms of conflict interaction studied, which, respectively, are constructive and destructive styles of engagement that impact marital satisfaction. Individuals completed self-report measures of attachment, accommodation, demand-withdraw and global marital satisfaction. The current study yielded statistically significant results and supported all of the research hypotheses. There were negative relationships found between the attachment dimensions of anxiety and avoidance and total accommodation, while positive relationships were determined between both attachment dimensions and demand-withdraw behaviors. In relationship to marital satisfaction, an individual's total accommodation was positively related, while demand-withdraw behaviors were inversely associated. There were also inverse relationships found between both the attachment dimensions and marital satisfaction. These findings suggest that the data are consistent with previous research on attachment, accommodation, demand-withdraw behavior and marital satisfaction. In addition to supporting prior findings, this study also had several unique contributions. A statistically significant relationship was found between the constructive and destructive conflict styles, which suggested total accommodation was associated with lower levels of demand-withdraw. In addition, a path model for the variables of attachment, accommodation, demand-withdraw and marital satisfaction was developed. This display of variables is especially useful in showing the bidirectionality of constructive and destructive behaviors in marriage. Research implications for these findings are presented and suggestions for future research are discussed.

Not available / text

published_or_final_version / abstract / toc / Clinical Psychology / Master / Master of Social Sciences

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Available also from UMI Company.

Thesis (doctoral)--Hamburgischen Universität, 1934. / Lebenslauf. Bibliography : p. viii-xv. "Literaturverzeichnis": p. viii-xv.

Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.

Attachment Theory and its practical application have re-emerged in recent years as a critical factor in understanding and determining the quality of relationships between the primary caregiver and the child. The reasons for disruptions in foster care placements have also been linked to problems with attachment. Foster care, in turn, has also become more prominent as a placement option in South Africa as we try to deal with the effect of HIV and AIDS on our communities. It would seem that the latest development in the application of Attachment Theory has specific value in assessing, developing and supervising the relationships in out-of-home care such as foster care placements. In this study the knowledge and application of some of the theoretical components and Attachment Theory of the social workers of Child Welfare Tshwane and their perceptions of their in-practice use thereof were explored. The results suggest that although the social workers knew that the quality of the relationship between the foster parents and the child is predictive of the success of the placement, they lacked the basic knowledge and skill to effectively attend to the attachment between foster parent and child. It seemed that they took more of a common sense approach towards understanding and addressing the attachment between the foster parent and the child. The research indicated that they do not have a sufficient grounding in Attachment Theory to be able to provide effective intervention regarding attachment-based concerns within the foster care context. The results indicate that there is a need to better equip social workers to deal with attachment-related issues they would routinely encounter when doing foster care supervision. / Attachment Theory and its practical application have re-emerged in recent years as a critical factor in understanding and determining the quality of relationships between the primary caregiver and the child. The reasons for disruptions in foster care placements have also been linked to problems with attachment. Foster care, in turn, has also become more prominent as a placement option in South Africa as we try to deal with the effect of HIV and AIDS on our communities. It would seem that the latest development in the application of Attachment Theory has specific value in assessing, developing and supervising the relationships in out-of-home care such as foster care placements. In this study the knowledge and application of some of the theoretical components and Attachment Theory of the social workers of Child Welfare Tshwane and their perceptions of their in-practice use thereof were explored. The results suggest that although the social workers knew that the quality of the relationship between the foster parents and the child is predictive of the success of the placement, they lacked the basic knowledge and skill to effectively attend to the attachment between foster parent and child. It seemed that they took more of a common sense approach towards understanding and addressing the attachment between the foster parent and the child. The research indicated that they do not have a sufficient grounding in Attachment Theory to be able to provide effective intervention regarding attachment-based concerns within the foster care context. The results indicate that there is a need to better equip social workers to deal with attachment-related issues they would routinely encounter when doing foster care supervision. / Thesis (M.A. (MW))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2008.