Description

The Adult Attachment Scale – Revised (AAS-R) is a psychometric tool developed to assess adult attachment patterns. The revised version of the scale offers improved reliability and validity compared to the original version, and it examines adults’ interpersonal relationships with greater accuracy and depth.

Purpose

The purpose of the AAS-R is to measure the types of attachment that adults exhibit in romantic and other significant interpersonal relationships. This assessment can help in understanding the emotional and behavioral patterns that affect the quality of relationships and mental well-being. The results can be used by psychologists, counselors, and researchers to develop interventions that promote healthy interpersonal attachment.

Analysis

The AAS-R consists of a series of statements that evaluate three main dimensions of attachment:
Secure Attachment: Individuals who feel comfortable with closeness and depending on others.
Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment: Individuals who worry about rejection and abandonment by others.
Avoidant Attachment: Individuals who avoid closeness and dependence on others.
Participants are asked to respond to statements using a Likert scale (e.g., from 1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
The analysis of the results includes:
Score Calculation: Responses are summed for each attachment dimension to calculate total scores.
Score Interpretation: The scores are compared with normative data to determine the individual’s attachment profile. Higher scores in specific dimensions indicate stronger tendencies toward the corresponding attachment type.
Statistical Analysis: Further analysis may be conducted to explore the relationships between attachment types and other factors, such as relationship quality, mental health, self-esteem, and stress management.

Calibration

The calibration of the AAS-R is carried out through studies on large and diverse adult samples to establish normative data and ensure the tool’s reliability and validity. Scores are standardized to allow for reliable comparisons of results across different populations and subgroups.

References

Collins, N. L., & Read, S. J. (1990). Adult attachment, working models, and relationship quality in dating couples. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 58(4), 644–663.
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511–524.
Brennan, K. A., Clark, C. L., & Shaver, P. R. (1998). Self-report measurement of adult attachment: An integrative overview. In J. A. Simpson & W. S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships (pp. 46–76). Guilford Press.
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(2), 226–244.
Fraley, R. C., Waller, N. G., & Brennan, K. A. (2000). An item response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(2), 350–365.