An investigation into the relationships between attachment style, health-beliefs and health behaviours.

Abstract

This dissertation aimed to investigate relationships between attachment theory, health-beliefs and health behaviours. It was hypothesised that there would be significant differences between attachment groups (Secure, Anxious-ambivalent and Avoidant) with regard to certain health beliefs and health behaviours and that such results would be influenced by gender and negative affect. In comparison to insecurely attached male and female participants, securely attached male and female participants were more concerned with looking after their physical and psychological health. Securely attached participants reported higher levels of current health status, and were less anxious about their current and future health. They were more responsible for their health in terms of internal locus of control and had greater expectations for their future health status. They also reported feeling less concerned about how others perceived their health, and were more motivated to look after their physical and psychological health through the use of health promoting behaviours (physical activity, spiritual growth, social support, stress management). In contrasting avoidant and anxiously attached participants, avoidant participants were least concerned with seeking social support and reported significantly lower levels of health promoting behaviours. It is noted that the health beliefs and health behaviours of avoidant male participants appeared to place them at greatest risk of poor physical and psychological health. Increased negative affect and insecure attachment were found to have a significant influence upon participants' anxieties about their health, their concerns about others opinions about their health, as well and their ability to maintain their psychological health through the use of stress management techniques. The results were broadly in line with and extend the findings of previous research. These findings will be discussed in relation to their implications for clinical practice, further research and service development, and a new model of attachment, health beliefs and health behaviours is proposed.