The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #65167

Kurt T. Rheinboldt, MSW¹, Lisa M. Walker, MA², Tammy Jordan Wyatt, PhD¹, Christopher White, MA³, and Fred L. Peterson, PhD³. (1) Health Education, University of Texas at Austin, Bellmont Hall 222, Austin, TX 78712, 512-470-8469, kurt@kurtr.com, (2) Human Development and Family Sciences, University of Texas at Austin, Campus Mall Code: A2700, Bellmont Hall 222, Austin, TX 78712, (3) Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, Campus Mail Code: D3700, Bellmont Hall 222, Austin, TX 78712

Recent research in attachment disorders has ventured into examination of its relationship to other aspects of behavior. Of particular interest here is the relationship between attachment dimensions and health related behaviors. Attachment has been shown to be highly related to relationship variables such as sexual behavior, and research also suggests a link to a wider array of health behaviors, including eating disorders, alcohol, drugs and other risk behaviors. However, assessment methods typically have been general or utilized untested instruments with no known reliability or validity information. This study employed the Experiences in Close Relationship Questionnaire – Revised (Fraley, Waller, and Brennan, 2000), an instrument which measures attachment along two dimensions, anxiety (alpha = .91) and avoidance (alpha = .94). The ECR-R was administered to more than 100 undergraduate students in concert with the National College Health Risk Behavior Survey, developed by the Centers for Disease Control. The NCHRBS was adapted from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey, administered nationally to high school students in the United States and assesses health behaviors across six prominent risk behavior categories. YRBSS items have been shown to have “moderate” to “substantial” reliability (Brener, et al, 2002). Analysis revealed significant relationships between a variety of health behaviors and dimensions of attachment. Results have implications for practice with at-risk groups, particularly for work with adolescents in and emerging out of institutional and foster care.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session participants shall:
• list the primary dimensions of attachment, anxiety and avoidance;
• recognize attachment dimensions in case scenarios; and
• assess attachment related risks in clients.

Keywords: Adolescent Health, Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.