| Abstrakt: |
During times of distress, the attachment system stimulates individuals to seek reassurance through closeness. Previous research suggests that attachment avoidance, but not attachment anxiety, is associated with larger preferred and estimated interpersonal distance. Although several studies exist investigating interpersonal distance during the COVID-19 pandemic, no research to date included the association with attachment style. This experimental study adds to previous research by examining the association between attachment styles and interpersonal distance during a genuine (social) threat, i.e., the COVID-19 pandemic, also examining the role of the intimacy level of the relationship with another person and who was in control of the approaching movement. A sample of 168 Dutch participants (aged 18–71 years) completed questionnaires and performed a computerized task to measure interpersonal distance estimations and distancing preferences during the COVID-19 pandemic with its social distancing measures. A computerized adaptation of the distance-closeness paradigm with two conditions (being approached and approaching) was used. Participants were asked to assess 6 scenarios, varying in the level of intimacy of the relationship, both from a current and retrospective pre-pandemic perspective. As expected, attachment avoidance was associated with larger interpersonal distance estimations and preferences. Contrary to our hypotheses, we found no associations for attachment anxiety, even though a real threat was present. Participants preferred greater distances in the being approached condition. Furthermore, preferred distances were larger during the pandemic than they were imagined pre-pandemic. The results of this study further support the previously found associations between attachment avoidance and interpersonal distancing behavior. Regarding attachment anxiety, further research could explore potential conflicting interests between suppressed self-needs for interpersonal closeness and presumed needs of others. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
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