Description

The Relationships Questionnaire (RQ-4) is a brief self-report instrument designed to assess adult attachment patterns within close and romantic relationships. Based on the four-category model of adult attachment developed by Bartholomew and Horowitz, the questionnaire provides four general self-descriptions corresponding to the Secure, Preoccupied, Dismissing-Avoidant, and Fearful-Avoidant attachment styles.

The Secure attachment style generally reflects comfort with emotional closeness, trust, and mutual dependence in relationships. The Preoccupied attachment style reflects a strong desire for intimacy accompanied by concerns regarding acceptance and the availability of significant others. The Dismissing-Avoidant attachment style is characterized by greater emphasis on independence and reduced comfort with interpersonal dependence, whereas the Fearful-Avoidant attachment style combines a desire for close relationships with discomfort, insecurity, or fear regarding emotional intimacy.

A distinctive characteristic of the RQ-4 is its dual-response format. Participants first select the single attachment description they believe represents them most accurately. They then evaluate all four descriptions using a seven-point rating scale, indicating the extent to which each attachment pattern corresponds to their interpersonal experiences. This structure allows attachment to be examined both categorically and quantitatively.

Due to its concise structure, the RQ-4 can be incorporated easily into broader psychological and interpersonal research protocols. It is particularly relevant to research in adult attachment, close relationships, personality psychology, social psychology, counseling psychology, and interpersonal functioning.

Data Analysis and Use

The dual-response structure of the RQ-4 provides two complementary approaches to data analysis. The categorical component identifies the attachment style selected by the participant as the best overall description of their relationship orientation, while the dimensional component provides a numerical rating for each of the four attachment styles.

For categorical analysis, frequencies and percentages can be calculated for Secure, Preoccupied, Dismissing-Avoidant, and Fearful-Avoidant attachment. Differences in attachment-style distributions between demographic, clinical, or other groups can subsequently be examined using appropriate categorical statistical techniques.

For dimensional analysis, scores obtained from the seven-point ratings can be summarized using means, standard deviations, and score distributions. These scores may also be incorporated into comparative analyses, correlation analyses, and other statistical models examining associations between attachment and psychological or interpersonal characteristics.

The questionnaire can be used for both research and clinical purposes, while its dual-response format supports qualitative and quantitative approaches to attachment assessment. Mean ratings for each attachment pattern may also be compared across different populations or used as supplementary information in counseling and clinical contexts.

Objective

The primary objective of the Relationships Questionnaire (RQ-4) is to assess adult attachment according to the four-category model, distinguishing among Secure, Preoccupied, Dismissing-Avoidant, and Fearful-Avoidant attachment patterns.

Through these four categories, the questionnaire provides information about characteristic ways in which individuals experience intimacy, interpersonal dependence, emotional closeness, and insecurity within significant relationships. The instrument can therefore contribute to research examining attachment in relation to emotional functioning, interpersonal relationships, psychological adjustment, and other psychosocial variables.

Scoring

The RQ-4 uses two complementary scoring procedures. In the first, participants select one of the four attachment descriptions as the description that most accurately represents them. This provides a categorical classification of the respondent’s dominant attachment style.

In the second procedure, participants rate each of the four attachment descriptions on a seven-point scale ranging from 1 = Not at All to 7 = Very Much. The resulting ratings are compared to determine which attachment pattern is most strongly represented. Higher ratings indicate a stronger correspondence between the participant’s interpersonal experiences and the characteristics of the respective attachment style.

The availability of both categorical selection and continuous ratings provides greater analytical flexibility than relying exclusively on a single attachment classification. Researchers should clearly report which scoring approach is used when presenting findings.

Validity

Evidence regarding the validity of the questionnaire indicates that the Fearful-Avoidant and Dismissing-Avoidant dimensions are significantly associated with the avoidance dimension of the Experiences in Close Relationships–Revised (ECR-R). In addition, fearfulness and avoidance have been associated with higher negative affect and greater difficulty establishing close emotional relationships. These findings provide evidence supporting the conceptual validity of the attachment patterns represented by the RQ-4.

Reliability

The provided source does not report specific reliability coefficients for the RQ-4. Consequently, numerical estimates of internal consistency or test–retest reliability should not be inferred from the available material.

When the instrument is incorporated into empirical research, its psychometric characteristics should therefore be considered in relation to the specific administration method, population, and analytical approach used.

References

Bartholomew, K., & Horowitz, L. M. (1991). Attachment Styles Among Young Adults: A Test of a Four-Category Model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 226–244.

Kafetsios, K. (2005). Attachment, Emotion, and Interpersonal Relationships. Athens: Dardanos.

Tsagarakis, M., Kafetsios, K., & Stalikas, A. (2007). Factor Structure, Validity, and Reliability of the Greek Version of the Revised Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-R) Measure of Adult Attachment. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 23(1), 47–55.