PhD Scientific Days 2021

MH_I_P: Mental Health Sciences I. Posters

Measuring Adult Romantic Attachment in Hungary

Text of the abstract

Introduction
The Experiences in Close Relationships - Revised (ECR-R) is a widely used self-report instrument to assess adult romantic attachment. The present Hungarian study examines the factor structure, reliability, construct validity and temporal stability of the Hungarian version (ECR-R-HU) in a nationally representative community sample.

Aims
The primary aim of the present study – besides introducing the Hungarian adaptation of the ECR-R for further research and clinical practice – was to examine the psychometric properties of the ECR-R-HU in a representative community sample.

Methods
Online data collection was carried out in a nationally representative online sample (N=958), which was stratified according to gender, age, education, and settlement type. To test the convergent validity of the scale, its two dimensions (Avoidance and Anxiety) were correlated with four other self report instruments measuring well-being, perceived stress, depressed mood and family functioning.

Results
The original avoidance and anxiety dimensions of the ECR-R (Fraley et al., 2000) could not be fully identified by confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). Exploratory factor analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis, then a new series of CFAs, in which we employed reversed-item method factors, confirmed the original ECR-R dimensions. Since we also found high reliabilities of the original Avoidance and Anxiety subscales, we decided to keep the original constructs. ECR-R-HU scores were relatively stable over 4 months. There were no significant relationships with demographic variables (age, gender, residence type), however, participants in an active relationship had significantly lower values on both the Avoidance and the Anxiety subscales. The two subscales correlated in the expected directions with family functioning problems, perceived stress, depressed mood and well-being.

Conclusion
These results confirmed the Hungarian version of the ECR-R (ECR-R-HU), as a reliable and valid assessment tool.

Funding
This work was supported by the Human Resources Development Operational Program under Grant EFOP-5.2.5-18-2018-00011.

University and Doctoral School

Semmelweis University, Doctoral School of Mental Health Sciences