A REVIEW OF ADULT ATTACHMENT MEASURES - IMPLICATIONS FOR THEORY AND RESEARCH

There has been increasing interest in adult attachment from both theor etical and empirical perspectives. Because the test ofa theory is base d on our ability to assess theoretical constructs, the review is organ ized around assessment techniques. Delineating the content, focus, ass umptions, and correlates of different attachment measures highlights c entral issues and problems in conducting research in adult attachment. In this review, we present theoretical issues related to adult attach ment, in particular, individual differences, working models, and the r ole of attachment in adult life. A summary of the measures commonly us ed in the study of adult attachment follows. The literature review is organized by measure, examining topics such as relations between child hood experiences and adult attachment status, and adult attachment and adult personality and functioning, parenting and partnership behavior . Studies which explore relations between measures ape discussed befor e concluding with thoughts about future directions.