Self-reported attachment and the mmpi-2-rf : are relationships expectancies reflected in Psychological Adjustment?

Abstract

Individuals' beliefs about close relationships are argued to not only influence behaviours, cognition and emotions in interpersonal interactions but also play a significant role in personal psychological adjustment. This research presents two studies examining how expectancies regarding attachment relationships are reflected in individuals' patterns of psychological adjustment as measured by a widely used psychometric instrument, the Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF). With a sample of 179 university undergraduates, Study One (manuscript 1) examined the relationships between selected MMPI-2-RF scales and dimensional and categorical self-report attachment measures. Using the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale-Revised-General Short Form, this study found that attachment anxiety and avoidance dimensions had significant relationships with various MMPI-2-RF scales. Significant differences were also found in many MMPI-2-RF scales with regard to the four attachment categories of the Relationship Questionnaire. Study Two, employing another sample of 218 undergraduates, examined the relationships between specific attachment facets as measured by the Attachment Style Questionnaire and the MMPI-2-RF scales (manuscript 2). Results indicate that specific attachment facets are also significantly associated with various MMPI-2-RF scales with varying degrees. Specifically, attachment security was found to have negative associations with all scales measuring psychopathology and interpersonal issues; attachment anxiety-related scales were found to be best predicted by MMPI-2-RF scales assessing psychopathology; and attachment-avoidant related scales were found to be best predicted by those assessing interpersonal-related issues. Results from both studies provide evidence that patterns of attachment are indeed reflected in the scores of specific MMPI-2-RF scales. An attachment-related behaviour, conflict communication methods as assessed by the Focus of Communication Questionnaire, was introduced in Study Two to investigate whether attachment can be an overarching factor in explaining selected psychological and interpersonal outcomes (manuscript 3). Conflict communication methods' relationships with the ASQ attachment facets and the selected outcomes were also examined. Results revealed that conflict communication methods do not significantly predict selected psychological outcomes when attachment is concurrently used as a significant predictor of psychological outcomes. However, conflict communication methods are significant predictors of selected interpersonal outcomes even when controlling for attachment expectancies. Significant but weak relationships were found between conflict communication constructs, and the attachment, psychological and interpersonal variables. Research and clinical implications of the results are discussed.