Associations between adult attachment style and mental health care utilization: Findings from a large-scale national survey.
Title | Associations between adult attachment style and mental health care utilization: Findings from a large-scale national survey. |
Publication Type | Journal Article |
Year of Publication | 2015 |
Authors | Meng X, D'Arcy C, G Adams C |
Journal | Psychiatry Res |
Volume | 229 |
Issue | 1-2 |
Pagination | 454-61 |
Date Published | 2015 Sep 30 |
ISSN | 1872-7123 |
Keywords | Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Anxiety Disorders, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Health Surveys, Humans, Likelihood Functions, Male, Mental Health Services, Middle Aged, Patient Acceptance of Health Care, Reactive Attachment Disorder, Social Networking, United States, Young Adult |
Abstract | This study investigated the association between attachment style and the use of a range of mental health services controlling socio-demographic, physical and psychological risk factors. Using a large nationally representative sample from the US National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R), a total of 5645 participants (18+) were included. The majority of participants reported their attachment as secure (63.5%), followed by avoidant (22.2%), unclassified (8.8%), and anxious (5.5%). The percentages using different health services studied varied widely (1.1-31.1%). People with insecure (anxious and avoidant) attachment were more likely to report accessing a hotline, having had a session of psychological counselling or therapy, getting a prescription or medicine for mental and behavioural problems. Individuals with anxious attachment only were also more likely to report the use of internet support groups or chat rooms. This is a first analysis to explore relationships between self-reported adult attachment style and a wide range of health care services. Insecurely attached individuals were more likely to use a wide range of health care services even after controlling for socio-demographic factors, psychiatric disorders and chronic health conditions. These findings suggest that adult attachment plays an important role in the use of mental health care services. |
DOI | 10.1016/j.psychres.2015.05.092 |
Alternate Journal | Psychiatry Res |
PubMed ID | 26213376 |