I Am a Rock; I Am an Island: Implications of Avoidant Attachment for Communal Coping in Adults with Type 2 Diabetes

Overview

Journal J Soc Pers Relat

Publisher Sage Publications

Date 2021 May 31

PMID 34054179

Citations 4

Authors

Meredith Van Vleet

Vicki S Helgeson

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Accumulating evidence indicates that communal coping is beneficial for individuals with chronic illness. The current investigation examined attachment as a moderator of the effects of communal coping in a sample of persons with type 2 diabetes. We hypothesized that patient communal coping would be associated with higher relationship quality, lower distress, and better diabetes outcomes for patients low in avoidant attachment, but it would not be beneficial for patients high in avoidant attachment. Patient communal coping was coded from videotaped interactions in which 86 heterosexual couples discussed difficulties managing diabetes. The results indicated that patient communal coping was beneficial when avoidant attachment was low. When avoidant attachment was high, patient communal coping was related to lower relationship quality and higher distress and was unrelated to diabetes outcomes. This work sheds light on potential boundary conditions of communal coping's benefits, which will be important to consider in future communal coping interventions.

Citing Articles

Links of daily shared appraisal and collaboration to support, mood, and self-care in type 2 diabetes.

Zajdel M, Naqvi J, Niezink N, Helgeson V J Soc Pers Relat. 2023; 40(6):1961-1986.

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Attachment style and post-bariatric surgery health behaviours: the mediating role of self-esteem and health self-efficacy.

Pyykko J, Hinnen C, Aydin O, Nieuwdorp M, De Brauw L, Bruin S BMC Psychol. 2023; 11(1):248.

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Communal or Autonomous? Coping Experiences of Chinese Serodiscordant Male Couples to HIV Care: A Dyadic Qualitative Analysis.

Fu R, Chen C, Gu Y, Wu D, Darbes L, Yu N Arch Sex Behav. 2023; 52(8):3553-3564.

PMID: 37365447 DOI: 10.1007/s10508-023-02643-1.

Dyadic Coping in Couples Facing Chronic Physical Illness: A Systematic Review.

Weitkamp K, Feger F, Landolt S, Roth M, Bodenmann G Front Psychol. 2021; 12:722740.

PMID: 34759866 PMC: 8573212. DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.722740.

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