Resumo

GARCIA TORRES, Michelle  e  GARCIA MENDEZ, Mirna. Adult Attachment and Singleness: Validation of a Scale. Acta de investigación psicol [online]. 2023, vol.13, n.2, pp.19-31.  Epub 14-Nov-2023. ISSN 2007-4719.  https://doi.org/10.22201/fpsi.20074719e.2023.2.492.

The attachment is an affective bond that characterizes and shapes close interpersonal relationships. Attachment styles are the set of knowledge, expectations and insecurities about oneself and others. The aim of this research was to develop a scale with adequate psychometric properties, that allows to assess adult attachment not only in a romantic context, but with significant others in general. It will allow the study of groups such as single people. To address that aim, three studies were conducted in which men and women form Mexico City participated voluntarily. In study one an exploratory factor analysis was performed (n=400), in study two a confirmatory factor analysis was performed (n=700). As a result of these studies, it was obtained a scale compounded by 16 items distributed in four factors: preoccupied, fearful, dismissing, and secure. The explained variance was 38.09%, with a reliability index of 0.46 to 0.82 in the different factors. In study three concurrent validity was analyzed (n=201). Differences between people with a partner and single were found in the three studies, scoring higher in security the first and single people scoring higher in preoccupied attachment. It was obtained a valid, reliable, and culturally relevant scale to assess adult attachment not only in the romantic ambit, but also in relation to significant others like family and friends.

Palavras-chave : Attachment; Assessment; Adults; Singleness; Significant others.