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.
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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.