LE3 .A278 2010

2010

Holmberg, Diane

Acadia University

Bachelor of Science

Honours

Psychology

Psychology

The present study examined whether adult attachment dimensions ( i. e., a tendency to be secure, anxious, or avoidant in relationships) predicted the use of dyadic coping strategies. Forty- two heterosexual couples participated in an experimental laboratory study. The female partner was led to believe her male partner was experiencing pain and had the opportunity to send supportive messages to him over the computer. The male partner was asked to send the female pre- scripted messages every 30 seconds evaluating his supposed pain. These messages followed one of two scripts: numerical pain ratings only ( control condition), or identical pain ratings plus catastrophizing messages ( catastrophizing condition) emphasizing his degree of pain. The coping strategies the female partner encouraged the male partner to use to cope with his pain were then coded. Hierarcihal regressions were used to analyse the data. Contrary to predictions, no overall relationship existed between the female‘ s adult attachment dimensions and coping strategies. However, non- hypothesized results were found. Overall, female partners sent fewer emotion- focused coping messages and more social support coping messages in the catastrophizing condition than in the control condition. Females‘ increased attachment avoidance predicted decreased emotion- focused coping and distancing coping, in the catastrophizing condition only. Speculations as to the use of different coping strategies for varying types of stressors, and their role in dyadic coping processes, are discussed.

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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:710