LE3 .A278 2008

2008

McWilliams, Lachlan

Acadia University

Master of Science

Masters

Psychology

Psychology

Research suggests that attachment theory is a suitable framework for understanding interpersonal variables regarding pain. In the present study, 160 undergraduates completed an online survey designed to investigate relationships between adult attachment dimensions (anxiety and avoidance) and attitudes toward pain behaviour (acceptable vs. unacceptable), as well as emotional reactions (distress and empathy) and care giving responses (solicitous, distracting, and negative) to vignettes depicting a friend's pain. Avoidance was negatively associated with acceptance of pain behaviour. The findings regarding emotional reactions and care giving responses were not consistent across vignettes or gender. In males, anxiety was associated with distress and negative care giving. In females, avoidance was negatively associated with empathy and distress, as well as with distracting and solicitous caregiving. These avoidance-care giving relationships were mediated by empathy. The findings suggest that gender is an important factor in how pain behavior is evaluated and that further research regarding attachment and care giving is warranted.

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