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PubMed2001

The development of commitment and attachment in dating relationships: attachment security as relationship construct.

This study examined attachment security and commitment as predictors of relationship stability in a sample of 51 couples. Attachment and commitment were measured during the Fall and Spring semesters prior to graduation from college and relationship stability was determined by contacting couples approximately one year following graduation from college. Attachment security was measured as a relationship construct (appraisal of the dating partner's availability and responsiveness). Attachment security increased with the length of time in the dating relationship and predicted relationship stability following graduation. We then considered how personality and family of origin factors contributed to positive trajectories within the dating relationship (i.e. the growth of attachment security, commitment and relationship stability). Males' security with their mothers and fathers and reports of open communication between their parents contributed to growth in attachment security and commitment between the Fall and Spring semesters. Attachment styles (assessed as a measure of personality) also predicted relationship stability with both males' and females' security increasing the relationship stability one year after graduation. Implications for understanding attachment as both a personality and relationship construct in adult romantic relationships are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1992

Responses of the ticks Amblyomma hebraeum and A. variegatum to known or potential components of the aggregation-attachment pheromone. IV. Attachment stimulation of nymphs.

Ten known or potential components of the aggregation-attachment pheromone (AAP) of the ticks Amblyomma hebraeum and A. variegatum, as well as a mixture of these components and extracts of prefed males of the two species, were tested as attachment stimulants for nymphs. Unfed nymphs were confined in linen bags on the ears of rabbits that had been treated with the test compounds, mixture or extracts; the numbers attached were recorded after 24 h. In A. hebraeum, attachment was induced by four compounds (2-methyl propanoic acid, methyl salicylate, o-nitrophenol and salicylaldehyde), the mixture and extracts from both species. In A. variegatum, attachment was induced by three compounds (methyl salicylate, o-nitrophenol and salicylaldehyde), the mixture and extracts from both species. Methyl salicylate and o-nitrophenol are primary components of the AAP of both A. hebraeum and A. variegatum. 2-methyl propanoic acid is a species-specific attachment stimulant for A. hebraeum. Salicylaldehyde, a phenolic compound, is not a naturally occurring AAP component. Nymphs of both species respond to fewer attachment stimulants than the adults and, as shown by their respective host ranges, are less dependent on the AAP in the regulation of attachment than the adults.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Specific cementum attachment protein enhances selectively the attachment and migration of periodontal cells to root surfaces.

A specific cementum attachment protein (CAP) was identified in human cementum and found to bind with high affinity to non-demineralized root surfaces, hydroxyapatite and fibronectin. Attempting to elucidate the biological function of this protein and its possible role in cementogenesis the capacity of CAP to promote selective cell migration towards and attachment of various periodontal derived cell populations to root surfaces in vitro was assessed. Human gingival fibroblasts (HGF), periodontal ligament cells (HPC), and alveolar bone cells (HABC) were labeled with [3H]Thymidine during their exponential growth phase. Root slices, 300 microns thick, were incubated with increasing concentrations of CAP. Untreated and fibronectin (FN) treated root slices served as negative and positive controls, respectively. Migration was assessed by placing root slices on confluent layers of labeled cells maintained in serum free medium and determining the number of cells migrated onto the root surface 3 days thereafter. Attachment was assessed by incubating root slices with labeled cell suspensions for 2 h and determining the number of attached cells. CAP promoted both cell migration and attachment dose dependently. HABC responded better than HPC and HGF to CAP treated root slices, and HPC response was higher than that of HGF. Cell attachment was dose dependently inhibited by synthetic RGD peptides. FN did not affect the migration of HGF, barely enhanced that of HABC, and was less potent than CAP at enhancing the migration of HPC. FN was more effective than CAP in promoting the attachment of HGF to root slices, but it was as potent as CAP in supporting the attachment of HPC and HABC.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Alveolar Process↗
PubMed1977

Characterization of the attachment of Treponema pallidum (Nichols strain) to cultured mammalian cells and the potential relationship of attachment to pathogenicity.

The interaction of Treponema pallidum (Nichols strain) with 19 different cultured mammalian cell types was examined. These types included cells derived from testis, kidney, spleen, lung, epidermis, cervix, urethra, and nerve tissue of human, rabbit, or rat origins. They represented normal and malignant cells, epithelial and fibroblastic morphology, cell lines, and cell strains, Large numbers of organisms attached to the cultured cells; this attachment prolonged the time of retention of active treponemal motility. Attachment was examined in terms of the number of treponemes inoculated, cultured cells present, and actively growing versus stationary cultured cells; the motility of the treponemes; the viability of the cultured cells; and the different cell passages. In sharp contrast to the attachment of T. pallidum, 11 nonpathogenic treponemes failed to attach to cultured cells. Immune syphilitic rabbit serum prevented the attachment of T. pallidum to cultured cells, as indicated by phase contrast microscopy and rabbit inoculations. This blockage of attachment by immune serum occurred without interfering with active motility of the organisms. Results are discussed in terms of the potential relationship of attachment to the pathogenicity of T pallidum.

Antibodies, Bacterial↗
PubMed1984

Attachment of Treponema pallidum to fibronectin, laminin, collagen IV, and collagen I, and blockage of attachment by immune rabbit IgG.

As shown by scanning electron and phase contrast microscopy, Treponema pallidum attached in vitro to basement membranes purified from kidney cortex tissues or from retinal vessels. This organism also attached to the extracellular matrix remaining after cultured cells had been solubilised with Triton X. Fibronectin, laminin, collagen, IV, collagen I, and hyaluronic acid are structural components of basement membranes and extracellular matrices. Experiments were performed to investigate the in vitro attachment of T pallidum to each of these components. Viable or heat inactivated treponemes were added to glass coverslips precoated with different concentrations of each component. After various times of incubation, coverslips were washed and the attached organisms were counted. Large numbers of viable organisms attached to each of these five components. In contrast, heat inactivation sharply reduced numbers of attached organisms. The IgG fractions of immune and non-immune rabbit serum samples were affinity purified using protein A. T pallidum was preincubated with both fractions, then incubated with either intact cultured cells or with coverslips coated with the five tissue components. The IgG from immune serum blocked treponemal attachment to the cultured cells and to fibronectin, laminin, collagen IV, and collagen I, but not to hyaluronic acid. These results are discussed in terms of attachment mechanisms of T pallidum and potential applications to in vivo infection.

Adhesiveness↗
PubMed2005

Individual differences in biobehavioral organization during problem-solving in toddlers: the influence of maternal behavior, infant-mother attachment, and behavioral inhibition on the attachment-exploration balance.

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of maternal behavior, infant-mother attachment, and behavioral inhibition on the biobehavioral organization of toddlers during a primary non-attachment-related challenging context. In a sample of 76 toddlers, quality of attachment (secure, avoidant, ambivalent, disorganized) was assessed at 12 months. At 22 months, the subjects were observed in a challenging task according to [Matas et al. (1978) Child Development 49: 547-556], and salivary cortisol was assessed before and afterwards. Behavioral analyses included child task orientation and exploration, help seeking, proximity seeking, and attachment-exploration-balance as well as maternal supportive presence and quality of assistance. Behavioral inhibition was assessed from maternal reports. Findings from concurrent analyses indicate relations between toddler behavior and adrenocortical function and the importance of concurrent maternal support for toddler behavior. Longitudinal analyses showed that quality of attachment predicted task orientation, help seeking behavior, and the quality of the attachment-exploration-balance, while behavioral inhibition was related to approach to the task. In line with previous findings, adrenocortical activation was found only in insecure infants with high behavioral inhibition indicating the function of attachment security as a social buffer against less adaptive temperamental dispositions. Finally, within-group analyses indicated a social regulation pattern in secure toddlers while the behavior of insecure ones was additionally linked to behavioral inhibition and physiological reactivity.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2003

The Vulnerable Attachment Style Questionnaire (VASQ): an interview-based measure of attachment styles that predict depressive disorder.

BACKGROUND: The Vulnerable Attachment Style Questionnaire (VASQ) was developed to provide a brief self-report tool to assess adult attachment style in relation to depression and validated against an existing investigator-based interview (Attachment Style Interview--ASI). This paper describes the development and scoring of the VASQ and its relationship to poor support and major depression. METHOD: Items for the VASQ reflected behaviours, emotions and attitudes relating to attachment relationship style, drawn directly from the ASI. The VASQ was validated against the ASI for 262 community-based subjects. Test-retest was determined on 38 subjects. RESULTS: Factor analysis derived two factors, labelled 'insecurity' and 'proximity-seeking'. The VASQ insecurity dimension had highest mean scores for those with interview-based Angry-dismissive and Fearful styles and was significantly correlated with degree of interview-based insecurity. The proximity-seeking VASQ scores had highest mean for those with Enmeshed interview attachment style and was uncorrelated with ASI insecurity. VASQ scores were highly correlated with a well-known self-report measure of insecure attachment (Relationship Questionnaire) and text-retest reliability of the VASQ was satisfactory. The total VASQ score and the insecurity subscale proved highly related to poor support and to depressive disorder. This was not the case for the proximity-seeking subscale. CONCLUSION: The VASQ is a brief self-report measure that distinguishes individuals with attachment styles vulnerable for depressive disorder. The use of the measure for screening in research and clinical contexts is discussed.

Aged↗
PubMed2000

Negative reactivity and attachment: Down syndrome's contribution to the attachment-temperament debate.

This longitudinal study investigated the relation between negative reactivity and attachment in children with Down syndrome (DS). Specifically, we examined whether extremely low negative reactivity is associated with the enactment and organization of attachment behaviors. To address this issue 30 infants with DS (13 female, 17 male) were observed in Ainsworth's Strange Situation at 19 and 27 months. The intensity and duration of distress reactions were coded in 15-s intervals throughout each Strange Situation episode. Children's distress intensity during separations from caregivers was used to place children into Low versus Moderate/High Negative Reactivity groups. In addition, ratings of infants' social interactive behaviors (contact maintenance, proximity seeking, distance interaction, resistance, and avoidance) were made for each episode and used to assess the quality of infants' attachment relationships. The data indicated that there are high rates of Type A and D insecure attachments within the DS population at each age studied. However, low negative reactivity was not consistently related to the activation of the attachment behavioral system, or associated with insecure attachment relationships. Alternative explanations for the high rate of insecure attachments are discussed.

Affect↗
PubMed2005

Couple attachment and the quality of marital relationships: method and concept in the validation of the new couple attachment interview and coding system.

This study investigates links between adult attachment and marital quality in 73 married couples, using a new Couple Attachment Interview that was modeled after the Adult Attachment Interview but focuses on the relationship between the partners. A coding system (CAICS) comparing the interview protocol to prototypes for secure, dismissing, and preoccupied attachment styles yielded continuous ratings of all three styles, and categorical classifications of secure/insecure for each partner. The study found direct links between couple attachment and both self-reported and observed marital quality, with all three continuous scores contributing uniquely to the equations. In most cases, the continuous scores explained variation in marital quality after the categorical security scores were entered into the regressions, although categorical scores also contributed uniquely to the explanation of marital quality. Pairing of partners' scores explained significant variance in both self-reported and observed evaluations of the couple relationship. Security of couple attachment served as a mediator in the link between self-reported marital satisfaction and observed marital quality. The results illustrated the interconnection of methodological choices and theoretical advances in the study of attachment and couple relationship quality.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Attachment and feeding problems: a reexamination of nonorganic failure to thrive and attachment insecurity.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between attachment patterns, degree of security, and feeding problems. METHOD: Three groups of toddlers (age range = 12-37 months) were included: toddlers with infantile anorexia (n = 33), picky eaters (n = 34), and healthy eaters (n = 34). Participants in each group were matched for age, socioeconomic status, gender, and ethnicity. Attachment patterns and degree of attachment security were assessed through the Ainsworth Strange Situation. RESULTS: The infantile anorexia group exhibited a higher rate of insecure attachment relationships than the picky eater and healthy eater groups. When measured on a continuous scale, the infantile anorexia group also displayed a higher degree of insecurity than the other groups. Contrary to previous research, elevated rates of type D attachments were not present within the infantile anorexia group. CONCLUSIONS: Feeding problems and growth deficiencies can occur within the context of organized and secure attachment child-parent relationships. However, insecure attachment relationships may intensify feeding problems and may lead to more severe malnutrition. Implications for the treatment of specific feeding problems are discussed.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2003

Predicting change in self-reported and interviewer-assessed adult attachment: tests of the individual difference and life stress models of attachment change.

The study tested the key assumption of the individual difference model of adult attachment change: that people who have experienced certain vulnerability factors will be prone to change attachment styles because they have developed unclear models of self and others that render their attachment models unstable. This model was compared to a life stress model, which states that change occurs as an adaptation to new, interpersonally relevant life circumstances. Changes in self-reported and interviewer-assessed attachment were examined among 94 young adults who were followed over 1 year. Analyses yielded support for the individual difference model for change in both self-reported and interviewer-assessed attachment. The life stress model was supported for change in interviewer-assessed attachment only. Implications for differential change processes for self-reported versus interviewer-assessed aspects of adult attachment are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Psychiatric staff as attachment figures. Understanding management problems in psychiatric services in the light of attachment theory.

BACKGROUND: Attachment theory argues that psychological development and functioning are affected by our earliest attachments to care-givers. Failed or pathological attachment in childhood may give rise to repetition of maladaptive attachment patterns in adulthood. METHOD: Analysis of therapeutic relationships in the light of attachment theory. RESULTS: Relationships between patients and both psychiatric care-givers and institutions may resemble attachment relationship. CONCLUSION: An attachment perspective may be useful for understanding common behavioural disturbances in general psychiatric settings, and support the use of clinical strategies which focus on containment of arousal and the management of anxiety states.

Caregivers↗
PubMed2000

The effects of attachment factors on initial attachment of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts on different root surfaces: a light and scanning electron microscopic study.

This study was aimed to test the effect of fibronectin (FN), vitronectin (VN) and a fibronectin analog (fibronectin-like engineered protein) on the attachment of periodontal ligament cells to mechanically-treated and mechanically non-treated periodontally involved and non-diseased root surfaces in vitro. Periodontal ligament fibroblasts were incubated with a total of 44 periodontally diseased and non-diseased root slices which had been treated in the following manner: 1) FN applied to mechanically-treated and non-treated root slices, 2) VN applied to mechanically-treated and non-treated root slices, 3) FN-like engineered protein applied to mechanically-treated and non-treated root slices, and 4) mechanically-treated and non-treated root slices. After the 1 hour incubation period in a humidified atmosphere of 95% air and 5% CO2 at 37 degrees C, the adherence of the fibroblasts was determined using light microscopy with an ocular grid system and orientation was evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. The results indicated that the number of attached cells to non-diseased cementum sites was significantly greater than the number of attached cells to diseased cementum sites for all of the groups (p < 0.05). Likewise, the number of attached cells to mechanically-treated diseased cementum sites was significantly greater than the number of attached cells to mechanically-non-treated diseased cementum sites (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that these attachment factors cannot promote cell attachment to different cementum sites.

Cell Adhesion↗
PubMed2001

Attachment theory and reactions to others' needs:' evidence that activation of the sense of attachment security promotes empathic responses.

Five studies examined the effects of chronic and contextual activation of attachment security on reactions to others' needs. The sense of attachment security was contextually primed by asking participants to recollect personal memories, read a story, or look at a picture of supportive others or by subliminally exposing them to proximity-related words. This condition was compared against the priming of neutral themes, positive affect, or attachment-insecurity schemas. Then reports of empathy and personal distress or the accessibility of empathy and personal-distress memories were assessed. Attachment-security priming strengthened empathic reactions and inhibited personal distress. Self-reports of attachment anxiety and avoidance were inversely related to empathy, and attachment anxiety was positively related to personal distress. The discussion emphasizes the relevance of attachment theory for explaining reactions to others' needs.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Life-span attachment: relations between attachment and socioemotional functioning in adult women.

Relations between the quality of adult women's attachments, their well-being, and their strategies for coping with stress were explored. In Study 1, we examined elderly women's (65-87 years of age) attachments to their adult children. No main effect differences were found, but extreme score analyses revealed that women with insecure attachments more often evidenced relatively extreme negative scores on measures of social, psychological, and physical well-being and reported using more strategies in coping with stress. In Study 2, we examined the quality of attachments of young adult (mean age = 20 years) and mature women (mean age = 38 years), respectively, to their closest attachment figure. Again, few main effects were found but extreme score analyses revealed that insecurely attached women more often scored in the clinical range on depression and reported more responses in coping with stress. Further friends independently reported more anxiety among insecurely attached women.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2002

Minimal attachment killing (MAK): a versatile method for susceptibility testing of attached biofilm-positive and -negative Staphylococcus epidermidis.

Due to its ability to attach to polymeric surfaces Staphylococcus epidermidis is a common pathogen in chronic, medical device-associated infections. Attached S. epidermidis displays reduced susceptibility against a variety of antimicrobial substances, and little correlation between standard susceptibility test results and clinical outcome of antibiotic treatment is observed. In this study we established a new, versatile, and easy method of antimicrobial susceptibility testing for attached Staphylococcus epidermidis, suitable for both biofilm-negative and biofilm-positive attached bacteria using readily available equipment. For three biofilm-positive wild-type strains and their biofilm-negative mutants minimal attachment killing concentrations (MAK) of penicillin, oxacillin, vancomycin, and gentamicin were determined. Depending on strain and investigated antibiotics, a heterogeneous MAK (MAK(hetero)) could be differentiated from a homogeneous resistance (MAK(homo)), favoring a model of few persisters within attached cells under antibiotic treatment. For the biofilm-negative mutants, a lower MAK(homo) was detected than for the corresponding wild types for some of the tested antibiotics, which probably resulted from higher bacterial inocula of wild-type strains, whereas the MAK(hetero) were comparable for mutants and wild types for most of the tested antibiotics and strains. These data indicate that biofilm formation is not a necessary prerequisite for persistence of attached S. epidermidis cells under antibiotic treatment, which could explain therapeutic failure in foreign body-associated infections due to biofilm-negative S. epidermidis isolates. The highly individual resistance phenotypes of the investigated strains with different antibiotics suggests that MAK determination could help to predict the therapeutic outcome of foreign body-associated infections with both biofilm-positive and biofilm-negative S. epidermidis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2003

Attachment and core relationship themes: wishes for autonomy and closeness in the narratives of securely and insecurely attached adults.

This study examines links between attachment states of mind and relationship schemas in a sample of 40 young adults, half of whom were hospitalized as adolescents for psychiatric treatment. Participants were interviewed about their closest relationships, and, using the Core Conflictual Relationship Theme method, their narratives about these relationships were analyzed for the relative frequency with which they expressed wishes for closeness and for autonomy in relation to others. Participants were also administered the Adult Attachment Interview and were classified with respect to security of attachment. Security of attachment was associated with the relative frequency with which participants expressed wishes for autonomy in their narratives about close relationships, even after accounting for current levels of psychological functioning and history of serious psychopathology in adolescence. Security of attachment was not associated with the relative frequency with which participants expressed wishes for closeness. The study suggests that core relational wishes for autonomy are linked specifically with subtypes of insecure attachment. These findings extend what is known about connections between the representation of early attachment relationships and the wishes and needs expressed in current relationships with significant others.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1998

Comparison of surgically attached and non-attached repair of the rat Achilles tendon-bone interface. Cellular organization and type X collagen expression.

The effects of surgical repair versus non-repair on cell morphology and type X collagen expression were investigated using a rat model of Achilles tendon avulsion. The animals were divided into four groups. In Group 1, tendon was reattached to the original attachment site by suturing through a drill hole in the calcaneus; in Group II, tendon was not reattached and a drill hole was not made; in Group III, tendon was not reattached but a drill hole was made; and the animals in Group IV were sham operated. In Group I (tendon reattached), at 2 weeks postoperatively, many hypertrophic chondrocytes appeared at the reattachment site adjacent to bone and type X collagen was detected immunologically both in the cells and in the extracellular matrix. After 4 weeks, the cells at the original site of attachment were arranged in rows along the newly formed tendon fibers and were stained with type X collagen antibody. By contrast, when tendon was not reattached (Groups II and III), a gap between the original attachment site and the tendon stump was observed through the entire postoperative period. At 8 weeks, the original attachment site was covered by fibrocartilaginous tissue and tendon became attached to the calcaneal fibrocartilage area, which is proximal to the original attachment site. Type X collagen was detected in the cells which were adjacent to bone. In Group IV (sham operation), there were no changes in histology or type X collagen distribution, either at the attachment site or in tendon and bone, compared with the non-operated control rats. These results suggest that surgical reattachment of tendon to the original site is important to help reorganize cells during the repair process. Type X collagen was identified immunohistochemically in the cells adjacent to bone in all the groups, suggesting that it may play a role in maintaining distinct areas of calcified and non-calcified fibrocartilage.

Achilles Tendon↗