Insecure attachment and support-seeking during COVID-19: a sequential mixed methods investigation
Insecure attachment and support-seeking during COVID-19: a sequential mixed methods investigation
The COVID-19 pandemic led many couples to stay at home together with minimal contact with others. As social distancing measures reduced contact with outside households, many partners could seek support only from one another. In two studies using a sequential mixed methods design, we investigated support-seeking behaviors in romantic relationships during COVID-19. In the qualitative study, semi-structured interviews (n = 48) showed differences in how and why partners seek support with an initial consideration of the role of attachment. We identified the following themes: direct support-seeking, indirect support-seeking, (in)dependence, and gender dynamics. In the quantitative study (n = 588), high COVID-19 worry, high attachment anxiety, and low attachment avoidance were associated with more support-seeking. Interestingly, we also found that when COVID-19 worry was high, individuals high in attachment avoidance were more likely to report seeking support. The paper provides a unique insight into the impact of COVID-19 on support-seeking behaviors in romantic relationships.
COVID-19, attachment styles, mixed-methods, romantic relationships, support-seeking, Support-seeking
159-180
Francois-Walcott, Rachel R.R.
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Perks, Rhia E.
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Vowels, Laura M.
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Carnelley, Katherine B.
02a55020-a0bc-480e-a0ff-c8fe56ee9c36
2024
Francois-Walcott, Rachel R.R.
0d0708f7-a047-4219-a27d-b30ede74fa56
Perks, Rhia E.
dd33ffbe-e5ee-4425-809f-bd58fcecc96d
Vowels, Laura M.
c6f40675-e541-46e4-8c58-5180eb6eeded
Carnelley, Katherine B.
02a55020-a0bc-480e-a0ff-c8fe56ee9c36
Francois-Walcott, Rachel R.R., Perks, Rhia E., Vowels, Laura M. and Carnelley, Katherine B.
(2024)
Insecure attachment and support-seeking during COVID-19: a sequential mixed methods investigation.
Attachment and Human Development, 26 (2), .
(doi:10.1080/14616734.2024.2349577).
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic led many couples to stay at home together with minimal contact with others. As social distancing measures reduced contact with outside households, many partners could seek support only from one another. In two studies using a sequential mixed methods design, we investigated support-seeking behaviors in romantic relationships during COVID-19. In the qualitative study, semi-structured interviews (n = 48) showed differences in how and why partners seek support with an initial consideration of the role of attachment. We identified the following themes: direct support-seeking, indirect support-seeking, (in)dependence, and gender dynamics. In the quantitative study (n = 588), high COVID-19 worry, high attachment anxiety, and low attachment avoidance were associated with more support-seeking. Interestingly, we also found that when COVID-19 worry was high, individuals high in attachment avoidance were more likely to report seeking support. The paper provides a unique insight into the impact of COVID-19 on support-seeking behaviors in romantic relationships.
Text
Insecure attachment and support-seeking during COVID-19 a sequential mixed methods investigation
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Accepted/In Press date: 26 April 2024
e-pub ahead of print date: 4 May 2024
Published date: 2024
Additional Information:
Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.
Keywords:
COVID-19, attachment styles, mixed-methods, romantic relationships, support-seeking, Support-seeking
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 489984
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/489984
ISSN: 1461-6734
PURE UUID: d8729944-2955-437e-a30f-a31995729313
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Date deposited: 09 May 2024 16:41
Last modified: 08 Jun 2024 02:06
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Contributors
Author:
Rachel R.R. Francois-Walcott
Author:
Rhia E. Perks
Author:
Laura M. Vowels
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