| Abstract: | Research indicates that insecure individuals are at risk for relationship distress. A recently developed 17-hr manualized attachment-focused (AF) group intervention targets the attachment concerns of insecure individuals. AF group intervention involves four sequential segments: (a) dysfunctional relationship beliefs, (b) childhood factors influencing partner choices and relationship styles, (c) relationship skills training, and (d) relationship strategies. This study tested the effectiveness of AF group intervention conducted over a 3-day weekend on 13 young adult women with insecure adult attachment patterns. At the 6-month follow-up, AF intervention participants reported improved interpersonal styles, enhanced satisfaction with family relationships, decreased agreement with dysfunctional relationship beliefs, and less fearful and more secure attachment patterns compared with controls. Participants with a fearful-avoidant attachment pattern reported the greatest gains. These findings support using attachment theory principles in group preventive interventions with insecure individuals. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
