Adult attachment styles as predictors of pain experience in a social context
LE3 .A278 2013
2013
Holmberg, Diane
Acadia University
Master of Science
Masters
Psychology
Our attachment characteristics influence our appraisals and responses to threats, such as pain, and colour how we provide care to others in return. The current study explored whether adult attachment styles predicted how people experienced and signaled acute pain during an experimental pain task, and whether those effects varied according to the presence of a close other. Friendship-specific attachment was assessed. Ninety-six friend pairs were recruited to complete a standardized cold pressor pain task in one of two conditions: with a close friend present in the room or absent. More avoidant volunteers displayed higher levels of pain tolerance when in the presence of a close friend. Volunteers also tended to report lower pain intensity when with preoccupied friends. Finally, a significant three-way interaction was observed between friend attachment anxiety, friend attachment avoidance, and condition. The presence and attachment style of close others may play a role in individuals’ adjustment to pain.
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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:284
