To access this work you must either be on the Smith College campus OR have valid Smith login credentials.

On Campus users: To access this work if you are on campus please Select the Download button.

Off Campus users: To access this work from off campus, please select the Off-Campus button and enter your Smith username and password when prompted.

Non-Smith users: You may request this item through Interlibrary Loan at your own library.

Publication Date

2022-6

First Advisor

James Drisko

Second Advisor

Arlene Montgomery

Third Advisor

John Hull

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Department

School for Social Work

Keywords

resilience, attachment, insecure attachment, attachment styles

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine whether or not there are there consistent and unique models of resilience patterns for persons who have insecure attachment styles. Prior literature indicated that insecure attachment styles make up a significant portion of the human population. This literature also indicates that insecure attachment styles will often lead to difficulties with mental health and decreased resilience. Th prevailing idea was that individuals with secure attachment styles have the highest levels of resilience and the best prognosis for a mentally well life course. By utilizing a convenience snowball sample of 433 unique individuals and dividing them by attachment styles (secure, dismissive, preoccupied and disorganized), administering two resilience measures (the Five by Five Resilience Scale and the Recovery Assessment Scale) and analyzing the items using a factor analysis and ANOVAS, it was discovered that some of these prevailing ideas may need to be reconsidered. Overall resilience scores were not statistically significant across cohorts of each attachment style with a baseline average score of sixty-five percent out of one hundred. Within each attachment style subtle patterns could be found that, when analyzed at the granular level appeared to indicate that there are some differences between the attachment style cohorts. The cohort of individuals with a secure attachment had a focus of social connection, regulation and self-esteem. The cohort of individuals with a dismissing attachment style had a focus on adaptability, goal orientation, logic, positivity and self-improvement and the cohort of individuals with a preoccupied attachment style had a focus on adaptability, positive oriented future and regulation of intense emotions.

Rights

©2022 Melissa D. Weise. Access limited to the Smith College community and other researchers while on campus. Smith College community members also may access from off-campus using a Smith College log-in. Other off-campus researchers may request a copy through Interlibrary Loan for personal use.

Language

English

Download

Smith Only:
Off Campus Download

Share

COinS