A Qualitative Study of the Attachment Styles and Their Influence on the Adjustment of Love Relationships Author:Yu-Ming Wang, Ching-Fu Wang
Research Article
This study consists of an analysis of answers given to some qualitative questions by 18 unmarried young college students. A semi-structure in-depth interview method was used. The questions included the participants’perception of (1) their attachment styles and (2) how their attachment styles affect their love relationships. The contents of these in-depth interviews were qualitatively analyzed. Results of the content analysis indicated six types of attachment styles: (1) introversive style, (2) alienated style, (3) open style, (4) autonomous style, (5) natural style and (6) wayward style. The perceived positive influences of these attachment styles included good communication, care for each other, self confidence, happiness, growth and change, autonomy, and good interaction. The perceived negative influences included feeling of burden, feeling of insecurity, misunderstanding, conflict, intolerance of difference, cheating, lack of happiness, indulgence and stagnation, and worsening of social network. Results were discussed in terms of attachment style theory and were compared with the findings from other empirical studies. The implications of these results to the society and culture in Taiwan were further discussed. It is believed that this study may be helpful in developing a theoretical framework for love relationships in Taiwan.