Attachment as an organizer of behavior: implications for substance abuse problems and willingness to seek treatment

Kristin M Caspers; Rebecca Yucuis; Beth Troutman; Ruth Spinks

doi:10.1186/1747-597X-1-32

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Attachment as an organizer of behavior: implications for substance abuse problems and willingness to seek treatment

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Attachment as an organizer of behavior: implications for substance abuse problems and willingness to seek treatment

Kristin M Caspers, Rebecca Yucuis, Beth Troutman and Ruth Spinks

Substance abuse treatment, prevention and policy, Vol.1(1), pp.32-32

11/02/2006

DOI: 10.1186/1747-597X-1-32

PMCID: PMC1635415

PMID: 17081298

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Abstract

Background: Attachment theory allows specific predictions about the role of attachment representations in organizing behavior. Insecure attachment is hypothesized to predict maladaptive emotional regulation whereas secure attachment is hypothesized to predict adaptive emotional regulation. In this paper, we test specific hypotheses about the role of attachment representations in substance abuse/dependence and treatment participation. Based on theory, we expect divergence between levels of maladaptive functioning and adaptive methods of regulating negative emotions. Methods: Participants for this study consist of a sample of adoptees participating in an ongoing longitudinal adoption study (n = 208). The Semi-Structured Assessment of the Genetics of Alcohol-II 41 was used to determine lifetime substance abuse/dependence and treatment participation. Attachment representations were derived by the Adult Attachment Interview [AAI; 16]. We constructed a prior contrasts reflecting theoretical predictions for the association between attachment representations, substance abuse/dependence and treatment participation. Results: Logistic regression was used to test our hypotheses. As predicted, individuals classified as dismissing, preoccupied or earned-secure reported the highest rates of substance abuse/dependence. Individuals classified as dismissing reported significantly lower rates of treatment participation despite their high rates of substance abuse/dependence. As expected, the continuous-secure group reported lowest rates of both substance abuse/dependence and treatment participation. Conclusion: The findings from this study identify attachment representations as an influential factor in understanding the divergence between problematic substance use and treatment utilization. The findings further imply that treatment may need to take attachment representations into account to promote successful recovery.

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Title: Subtitle: Attachment as an organizer of behavior: implications for substance abuse problems and willingness to seek treatment
Creators: Kristin M Caspers - Roy J and Lucille Carver College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
Rebecca Yucuis - Roy J and Lucille Carver College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
Beth Troutman - Roy J and Lucille Carver College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
Ruth Spinks - Roy J and Lucille Carver College of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Substance abuse treatment, prevention and policy, Vol.1(1), pp.32-32
DOI: 10.1186/1747-597X-1-32
PMID: 17081298
PMCID: PMC1635415
NLM abbreviation: Subst Abuse Treat Prev Policy
ISSN: 1747-597X
eISSN: 1747-597X
Publisher: BioMed Central; London
Language: English
Date published: 11/02/2006
Academic Unit: Psychiatry; Epidemiology
Record Identifier: 9984003422102771

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