In the present study, I examined how the quality of relatedness (operationalized as Mutually Responsive Orientation) in the mother-child relationship in kindergarten students affects the association between the mother's values about school and the child's emotional engagement in school. Relatedness, as described by Self-Determination Theory, posits when a child feels a sense of relatedness—supported, respected, and connected with another individual—the child will be more likely to integrate that person's values into their own belief system. Sixty-six mother-child dyads were observed and videotaped doing four everyday activities (mother worked while child played independently, mother and child had a snack, mother and child played a game, mother and child cleaned up). In addition, the mothers filled out a questionnaire reporting their own valuing of school, and children participated in the Berkeley Puppet Interview, a semi-structured interview between researcher and child in which children reported their levels of emotional engagement in school to two dog puppets. Data were coded and then analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Relatedness between mother and child was found to have a moderating effect on the relation between mothers' values about school and children's school engagement. The strongest relation between mothers' values and children's school engagement was found when mother-child relatedness was low. When mother-child relatedness was high, the engagement of the child was not affected by the mother's valuing of school. The study findings offer implications for how children experiencing high levels of relatedness with their mothers will be able to be more successful in the school setting, regardless of the mothers' valuing of their own school experiences.

Over 71% of American homeless individuals are adults over 25 years of age, and the numbers are increasing. Approximately 25% of homeless individuals own a companion animal (CA). Because most service providers do not allow CAs within their facilities, the current $60.2 billion dollar national budget for homeless resources may be underutilized or forfeited altogether by homeless adults with a CA. The purpose of this study was to explore community service utilization by homeless adults with a CA through the lens of attachment theory. The research question addressed the lived experiences and perceptions of homeless adults who own CAs regarding community service utilization. This is a qualitative, hermeneutic phenomenological study in which 11 participants were interviewed individually from a semi-structured, researcher created questionnaire. Participants were homeless adults at an emergency shelter in Texas or Oklahoma where their CAs were allowed. Through coding and thematic analysis, 3 themes developed: familial attachment to a CA, a willingness to forego services that do not accommodate their CA, and false belief in their CA as a necessary service provider. The results of this study builds upon the existing body of knowledge regarding homelessness, CAs, and community services as well as informs service provision, education, and policy. Positive social change implications include awareness of the perceptions and beliefs provided by this unique unsheltered sub-population who experienced physical illnesses, trauma, and a close familial bond with their CA. Their lived experiences are key indicators for community service providers and governmental organizations consideration in reference to budgeting allocations and future research.

There is a demonstrated association between children's negative behaviors, placement disruption, and foster parents' attachment style in early childhood; however, there is an absence of research examining this relation among foster children in middle childhood. Researchers have found that in early childhood, children respond more favorably to foster parents with a secure attachment style, while greater placement disruption is associated with foster parents having an insecure attachment style. The purpose of this study was to examine the association between foster children's negative behaviors, placement disruption in foster children during middle childhood, and foster parents' attachment style. Bowlby's and Ainsworth's attachment theory was the theoretical framework of this quantitative study. Thirty-six foster parent-child dyads from 2 foster care organizations in Texas formed the convenience sample. Participants completed the Behavior Assessment System for Children, the Parent Rating Scale (predictor variable), the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (moderator variable), and a postbaseline telephone call (criterion variable). The results of a binary logistic regression analysis indicated that children's negative behavior was not significantly related to placement disruption. A moderated regression analysis was not conducted to test if foster parents' attachment style had a moderating effect between children's negative behavior and placement disruption due to the low number of respondents in the insecure style. These findings provide insight into the influence of foster parents' attachment style to children's behaviors. Social change implications could promote attachment theory in the development of training programs for foster parents which may help increase placement stability.

Postpartum depression is a significant public health problem facing women, children, and families in the United States with an estimated 10-15% of U.S. mothers experiencing an episode of non-psychotic depression within six months of delivery. The purpose of this study was to investigate the associations between maternal depression during the first three years postpartum and child social competence and display of problem behaviors at first grade. The impact of several characteristics of maternal depression were examined including general exposure, timing of initial onset in the postpartum period, severity of symptoms along the trajectory of initial onset, and chronicity of symptoms. This study also explored the mediating and moderating influences of maternal sensitivity, as well as the moderating influence of exposure to nonmaternal care. This study was based upon secondary analysis of data from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care (NICHD SECC), a multi-site, prospective, three-phase longitudinal study. The sample consisted of 679 infants and their families that participated in both Phase I and Phase II of the NICHD SECC, had compete data on all variables of interest in the study, and had non-depressed mothers at first grade. Results identified the first six months postpartum as a sensitive period of risk for depression initiation. Severity of symptoms was also found to be important. In some instances depression alone did not increase risk for lower levels of social competence, but severity of symptoms above cut points indicating depression did. Chronic depression at 24 months rather than 36 months postpartum was found to pose the greatest magnitude of negative influence on outcome. Maternal sensitivity partially mediated the negative impact of maternal depression on child outcome only when averaged across the first 36 months postpartum, or when assessed at later time points in the postpartum period (24 or 36 months. All mediations were modest in magnitude. Higher levels of maternal sensitivity buffered the negative impact of maternal depression among earlier onset episodes (six months), and ever exposure to nonmaternal care by 24 months was found to buffer the negative impact of chronic depression at 24 months on both mother and teacher reports of social competence.

Infidelity violates a western norm that a range of interpersonal behaviours should remain exclusive in committed romantic relationships. Once exposed, the aftermath can be detrimental to all concerned. However, despite a cultural majority endorsing this belief and apprised of the potential consequences of its violations, infidelity or extradyadic relationships are widespread. Furthermore, individual differences in beliefs about what constitutes infidelity blur the boundaries of acceptable behaviour, making the concept of unfaithfulness difficult to fully describe. This variation in attitudes and behaviour, along with the consistent media attention infidelity attracts affirms the enigmatic nature of the behaviour. In response, an aim of the study was to clarify the construct of infidelity among a contemporary Australian sample. This was achieved in two ways. Firstly, the study examined beliefs and behaviours associated with unfaithfulness using qualitative (focus group) and largely quantitative (survey) data. Secondly, the study involved investigation of the association between infidelity and several individual, relationship and environmental variables. Differences in relationships and environmental conditions can be conceptualised within the theoretical framework of the investment model, while adult attachment theory and a lovestyles typology offer theoretical underpinnings to the study of individual differences. Specifically, the aim of this stage of the study was to examine how adult attachment styles (anxious, avoidant), lovestyles (eros, ludus, storge, mania, pragma, agape), relationship variables (satisfaction, investment, commitment), and an environmental variable (perceived alternatives) predicted infidelity. The sample comprised 243 women and 69 men between the ages of 18 and 60 years (M = 31.3 years, SD = 11.9) who were currently in a romantic relationship of at least one year or who had recently been in such a relationship. Participants completed measures pertaining to attachment, lovestyles and various aspects of relationship quality in addition to several measures of extradyadic behaviour. The study found that infidelity, as defined by respondents, was engaged in by 20% of individuals in their current relationships and by 42% of individuals in their previous relationships. Regarding the nature of infidelity, the current findings indicated that various sexual and emotional behaviours carried out with someone other than one's primary partner were considered unfaithful by the vast majority, while fantasy and flirting behaviours were generally seen as acceptable. It was noteworthy, however, that a substantial minority also viewed fantasy as unfaithful, underlining the inherent complexity of the construct. The hypotheses concerning the variables predicting infidelity were partially supported. Results suggested that individuals most likely to engage in extradyadic behaviour were those with an avoidant attachment style or a Ludus lovestyle, more perceived alternatives to their relationship, and most unexpectedly, higher levels of investment in their relationship. Conversely, those least likely to engage in these behaviours were those with an Eros Lovestyle and greater levels of commitment to their relationship. The study confirmed the prevalence of infidelity and emphasised the differential attitudes, behaviours and motivations associated with it. These differences are discussed in relation to the theories presented and an argument is made for research on infidelity to take a broader focus, one that includes the combined aspects of individuals, their relationships and the environment. Implications of these findings for individuals and couples and for the professionals who work with them are discussed, along with suggestions for future research.

Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT; Johnson, 2004) addresses relationship distress by facilitating the development of new patterns of interaction between partners. These new patterns of interaction are based on partners' vulnerable acknowledgement and expression of attachment needs. Partners' engagement in these new patterns of interaction is thought to improve their relationship-specific attachment bond. Although previous studies have shown EFT to result in excellent relationship satisfaction outcomes (Johnson, Hunsley, Greenberg & Schindler, 1999), research had yet clearly to demonstrate if and how EFT facilitates increases in partners' relationship-specific models attachment security over the course of therapy. To address this research gap, the current study employed Hierarchical Linear Modelling (HLM; Singer & Willet, 2003) to investigate the pattern of change in couples' (n=32) self-reported relationship satisfaction and relationship-specific attachment over the course of EFT. Couples reported significant linear increases in their relationship satisfaction and significant linear decreases in their relationship-specific attachment avoidance over the course of therapy. Couples who completed the blamer-softening therapeutic change event (n=16) demonstrated significant linear decreases in their relationship-specific attachment anxiety after completing this event. Decreases in relationship-specific attachment anxiety predicted increases in couples' relationship satisfaction over the course of therapy. Couples also demonstrated significant increases in the security of their pre-post-therapy relationship-specific attachment behaviour, as coded Secure Base Scoring System (Crowell, Treboux, Gao, Fyffe, Pan & Waters, 2002). The current study also used HLM (Singer & Willet, 2003) to examine how the completion of blamer-softening impacted softened couples' relationship-specific attachment anxiety, and whether the completion of blamer-softening had a similar impact on softened couples' relationship-specific attachment avoidance and relationship satisfaction. Softened couples reported an immediate increase in relationship satisfaction and immediate decrease relationship-specific attachment avoidance at the softening session. Further, softened couples' post-softening decreases in relationship-specific attachment anxiety were initially preceded by an increase at the softening session. These results provided an understanding of how EFT leads to increases in couples' relationship-specific attachment security. These results provide support for the use of attachment theory in the treatment of relationship distress, and also provide an illustration of how attachment can shift over the course of a therapeutic intervention.

Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy (EFT; Johnson, 2004) is an empirically validated approach to couple therapy that uses attachment theory to understand the needs and emotions of romantic partners. In EFT, relationship distress is conceptualized as resulting from negative affect, emotional disconnection, and unmet attachment needs. Although EFT is recognized as one of the most researched and effective approaches to couple therapy, little research has examined theoretically related characteristics of couples to changes in marital satisfaction throughout EFT. The present doctoral thesis examined this area of literature. Thirty-two couples were provided approximately 21 sessions of EFT. The goal of the first study was to identify intake characteristics related to change in marital satisfaction over the course of EFT. Couples completed self-report measures of marital satisfaction, attachment security, relationship trust, and emotional control at pre- and post-therapy and after each therapy session. Individuals higher on self-report attachment anxiety and higher levels of emotional control had greater change in marital satisfaction over the course of EFT. The goal of the second study was to examine intake levels of attachment security and its relationship to the occurrence of the blamer-softening event, a key change event in EFT, and changes in marital satisfaction. Results indicated that the occurrence of a blamer-softening event significantly predicted positive changes in marital satisfaction. Results also suggested that the occurrence of a softening event significantly moderated the relationship between attachment avoidance at intake and change in marital satisfaction from pre- to post-therapy. For couples who completed a blamer-softening event, partners with lower levels of attachment avoidance were more likely to have positive changes in marital satisfaction. However, this relationship was not evident for attachment anxiety. Overall, results from this thesis suggest that attachment security is a key characteristic of couple partners for therapists to consider when implementing EFT. Therapists may benefit from assessing attachment security at the start of therapy to help inform them of the emotion regulating strategies used by couple partners. This information may help therapists to tailor specific interventions such that couples may begin to develop more secure attachment bonds.

Människor med allvarligare missbruksproblem lider ofta av samsjuklighet. Syftet med studien var att undersöka kvantitativ förekomst av PTSD bland klienter med diagnosen missbruk/beroende på ett behandlingshem i Sverige samt skillnader i förekomst av PTSD mellan män och kvinnor. Även ett kvalitativt syfte fanns avseende missbrukande människors livsvärld och deras syn på sambandet mellan trauma och missbruk samt behandling. Urvalet bestod av 41 individer med diagnosen missbruk/beroende som testats med mätinstrumentet PCL-C vilket mäter problem och besvär som människor kan få som en reaktion på stressande upplevelser. Två av individerna från urvalet valdes för djupintervjuer. Studiens kvantitativa resultat visade att urvalsgruppen i förhållande till en normalpopulation, har betydande större del individer med indikationer på PTSD (65% mot 5,6%). Mer än dubbelt så många kvinnor som män indikerade förekomst av PTSD vilket överensstämmer med normalpopulationen. 90% av kvinnorna hade värden över det kritiska värdet på PCL-C. Studiens kvalitativa resultat visade på ett möjligt samband mellan tidigare svåra upplevelser i livet och situationen idag. Båda de intervjuade individerna hade erfarenhet av svåra händelser i barndomen, tonåren och i vuxenlivet. Båda såg de svåra händelsernas påverkan på psykisk- och fysisk hälsa och relationer samt en koppling mellan svåra händelser och missbruk. Båda hade också tankar om att fokus på/behandling av svåra händelser kan påverka missbruket. Slutsatser av studien kan sammanfattas i att många människor med missbruksproblem också har en traumabakgrund, att kvinnor har det i större utsträckning än män och att detta bör beaktas vid mötet med, och i behandlingen av missbrukare.

Increasing evidence illustrates an involvement of stress in a large variety of physical and mental illness. Together with the evolutionary development of the social behavior in humans, the traditional interpretations of the attachment theory and the social support theory underscores the importance of affection, belonging and appreciation for human well-being. Not only can an imbalanced stress system be the cause of severe pathological consequences, insufficient social contact can also hamper recovery. Frequent usage of animals in various settings steadily illustrates both physiological and psychological benefits on both the young and the old, the healthy and the ill. Through the study of neurobiological factors, with oxytocin as a central mediator of social behavior and its  impact in turn on the stress- and cortisol system, this paper examines the possibility of animals to function as social support. The potential of animals to reduce the suffering in patients with stress related psychiatric disorders, such as the highly frequent exhaustion disorder, human-animal interactions might offer a non-invasive complementary tool to current treatment methods.

Syftet med föreliggande studie var att undersöka anknytningsteorin i relation till arbetslivet. Anknytningsteorin behandlar samspelet mellan omvårdnad och anknytning. Teorin omfattas av olika anknytningsstilar: trygg, undvikande och ängslig, som människan utvecklar beroende på hur de behandlas av sin primära vårdnadsgivare under uppväxten. Det huvudsakliga syftet var att undersöka om trygg anknytningsstil genererar hög arbetstillfredsställelse. Studien utgick från Self Determination Theory som bygger på att behoven autonomi, kompetens och samhörighet bör uppfyllas för att skapa motivation och därmed nå högre tillfredsställelse. Teorin omfattas även av två olika motivationsformer: autonom och kontrollerad, vilka i föreliggande studie undersöktes i relation till anknytningsstilarna. Populationen var vårdanställda (n = 88) i en kommun i södra Sverige. Deskriptiv data visade att anställda inom vården har en övervägande trygg anknytningsstil. Resultatet i denna studie visade att det fanns ett signifikant samband mellan hög arbetstillfredsställelse och hög nivå av trygg anknytningsstil (p = .006). Resultatet visade inga signifikanta skillnader i motivationsform mellan de olika anknytningsstilarna. Den huvudsakliga slutsatsen i föreliggande studie var att trygg anknytningsstil kan predicera hög arbetstillfredsställelse (p = .007). / The purpose of this study was to examine Attachment Theory in relation to working life. Attachment Theory deals with the interaction between nursing and attachment. The theory includes different attachment styles: secure, avoidant and anxious that people acquire depending on how they are treated by their primary caregiver while growing up. The main purpose was to investigate whether a secure attachment style generates high job satisfaction. The study was based on Self Determination Theory which states that the needs for autonomy, competence and relatedness should be met to create motivation and achieve higher satisfaction. The theory also contains two different forms of motivation: autonomous and controlled, which in the present study were investigated in relation to the attachment styles. The population was health care workers (n = 88) in a municipality in southern Sweden. Descriptive data showed that health care workers have a predominantly secure attachment style. The results of this study showed that there was a significant correlation between high job satisfaction and high level of secure attachment style (p = .006). The results showed no significant differences in motivation between the various attachment styles. The main conclusion in this study was that secure attachment style can predict high job satisfaction (p = .007).