The relationship of attachment and self-disclosure in different types of close relationships in adulthood

Ružić, Valentina. (2006). The relationship of attachment and self-disclosure in different types of close relationships in adulthood. Diploma Thesis. Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu, Department of Psychology. [mentor Kamenov, Željka].

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship of attachment and dimensions of self-disclosure in adulthood with respect to gender and type of close relationships with others (friends, parents and partner). Two attachment dimensions were examined (anxiety and avoidance), five self-disclosure dimensions (amount, depth, honesty, intent and positive/negative self-disclosure) and self-disclosure in general. The study included 205 participants (92 males and 113 females) aged between 18 and 40 (average age was 27). The Revised Scale of Self-Disclosure (Wheelees and Grotz, 1976) was applied, while attachment was determined using modification of Brennan's Inventory of Close Relationships (Kamenov and Jelić, 2003). The results have shown that avoidance is significantly negatively correlated with overall self-disclosure for all three types of close relationships (with friends, parents and partner) and that a higher level of avoidance is correlated with lower levels of honesty in self-disclosure, shallower self-disclosure and lowered intent of self- disclosure, as well as with the increased disclosure of negative information. Anxiety did not reveal a statistically significant correlation with overall self-disclosure, but was significantly correlated with decreased honesty and greater depth of self-disclosure, as well as with revealing more negative information. Statistically significant gender differences were found in terms of a higher level of overall self-disclosure in women and a higher level of avoidance in men. The participants showed higher levels of self-disclosure toward friends and partners than toward parents.

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