Temporal Dynamics Between State Attachment Security, Avoidance, and Anxiety: Insights into Everyday Attachment System Functioning
: Tammilehto, Jaakko; Kaurin, Aleksandra; Kuppens, Peter; Bosmans, Guy; Vänskä, Mervi; Flykt, Marjo; Peltonen, Kirsi; Lindblom, Jallu
Publisher: SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC
: THOUSAND OAKS
: 2025
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
: PERSONALITY AND SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY BULLETIN
: PERS SOC PSYCHOL B
: 17
: 0146-1672
: 1552-7433
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672251333472
: https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672251333472
: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/498580346
The attachment system regulates behavior to maintain security and cope with insecurities. Although this necessitates the coordination of different attachment states, research on state-level dynamics is scarce. We used data from two ecological momentary assessment studies (Ns = 122 and 127) to examine cross-lagged effects between state attachment security, avoidance, and anxiety. We hypothesized dampening effects between the secure and insecure states. Furthermore, we expected trait-level attachment to moderate the state-level dynamics. Attachment states were assessed seven or ten times daily over a week. Trait attachment was assessed using the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised. Results showed that state security predicted decreased state avoidance and anxiety. Evidence also emerged for state avoidance predicting decreased security. Trait attachment showed no expected moderation effects on the state-level dynamics. Our study underscores the predominance of security over insecurities, suggesting that the functioning of the everyday attachment system centers on fluctuations in the sense of security.
dynamic structural equation model, ecological momentary assessment, experience sampling method, state attachment
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The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This work was supported by a grant from the Wihuri Foundation awarded to Jallu Lindblom and a grant from the Finnish Cultural Foundation awarded to Jaakko Tammilehto.