Psychometric Properties of the Spanish and American Versions of the ECR Adult Attachment Questionnaire
Abstract
Abstract. We compared the psychometric properties of the American and Spanish versions of the Experiences in Close Relationship measure (ECR; Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998; ECR-S, Alonso-Arbiol, Balluerka, & Shaver, 2007; Alonso-Arbiol, Shaver, & Yárnoz, 2002), which assesses individual differences in attachment-related anxiety and avoidance. The American version of the questionnaire was administered to 1,265 Americans and the Spanish version to 747 Spaniards, all of them university students. The results indicate that the two linguistic versions are comparable, and that the Avoidance and Anxiety scales exhibit high internal consistency reliability in both languages, although the α values are slightly lower for the Spanish version. Avoidance was related to relationship status in both language groups, with about the same effect size. The factor structure of the measure was similar across both the American and Spanish samples.
References
Ainsworth, M.D.S. , Blehar, M.C. , Waters, E. , Wall, S. (1978). Patterns of attachment: A psychological study of the strange situation . Hillsdale, NJ: ErlbaumAlonso-Arbiol, I. , Balluerka, N. , Shaver, P.R. (2007). A Spanish version of the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) adult attachment questionnaire. Personal Relationships, 14, 45– 63Alonso-Arbiol, I. , Shaver, P.R. , Yárnoz, S. (2002). Insecure attachment, gender roles, and interpersonal dependency in the Basque Country. Personal Relationships, 9, 479– 490Bowlby, J. (1982). Attachment and loss, Vol. I: Attachment (rev. ed.). London: HogarthBartholomew, K. , Horowitz, L.M. (1991). Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four-category model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 226– 244Bentler, P.M. (1990). Comparative fit indexes in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 238– 246Bentler, P.M. (1992). On the fit of models to covariances and methodology to the Bulletin. Psychological Bulletin, 112, 400– 404Brennan, K.A. , Clark, C.L. , Shaver, P.R. (1998). Self-report measurement of adult attachment. An integrative overview. In J.A. Simpson & W.S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships (pp. 46-76). New York: GuilfordChurch, A.T. , Burke, P.J. (1994). Exploratory and confirmatory tests of the Big Five and Tellegen's three- and four-dimensional models. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 66, 93– 114Cudeck, R. , Browne, M.W. (1993). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. In K.A. Bollen & J.S. Long (Eds.), Testing structural equation models (pp. 1-9). Newbury Park, CA: SageCureton, E.E. , D'Agostino, R.B. (1983). Factor analysis: An applied approach . London: ErlbaumFeldt, L.S. (1969). A test of the hypothesis that Cronbach's α or Kuder-Richardson coefficient 20 is the same for two tests. Psychometrika, 34, 363– 373Fraley, R.C. , Waller, N.G. (1998). Adult attachment patterns: A test of the typological model. In J.A. Simpson & W.S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships (pp. 77-114). New York: GuilfordGriffin, D.W. , Bartholomew, K. (1994). Models of self and other: Fundamental dimensions underlying measures of adult attachment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67, 430– 445Hambleton, R.K. (2005). Issues, designs, and technical guidelines for adapting tests into multiple languages and cultures. In R.K. Hambleton, P.F. Merenda, & C.D. Spielberger (Eds.), Adapting educational and psychological tests for cross-cultural assessment (pp. 3-38). Mahwah, NJ: ErlbaumHazan, C. , Shaver, P.R. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 511– 524Hoyle, R.H. (1995). The structural equation modeling approach: Basic concepts and fundamental issues. In R.H. Hoyle (Ed.), Structural equation modeling: Concepts, issues, and applications (pp. 1-15). Newbury Park, CA: SageJöreskog, K.G. , Sörbom, D. (1981). LISREL V: Analysis of linear structural relations by the method of maximum likelihood . Chicago, IL: International Educational ServicesJöreskog, K.G. , Sörbom, D. (1986). LISREL VI: Analysis of linear structural relations by maximum likelihood and least square methods . Mooresville, IN: Scientific SoftwareJöreskog, K.G. , Sörbom, D. (1993). LISREL 8: User's reference guide . Chicago, IL: Scientific Software InternationalKishton, J.M. , Widaman, K.F. (1994). Unidimensional versus domain representative parceling of questionnaire items: An empirical example. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 54, 757– 765Little, T.D. , Cunningham, W.A. , Shahar, G. , Widaman, K.F. (2002). To parcel or not to parcel: Exploring the question, weighing the merits. Structural Equation Modeling, 9, 151– 173McCrae, R.R. , Zonderman, A.B. , Costa, P.T. , Bond, M.H. , Pauonen, S.V. (1996). Evaluating replicability of factors in the revised NEO Personality Inventory: Confirmatory factor analysis versus Procrustes rotation. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70, 552– 566Mikulincer, M. , Goodman, G.S. Eds. (2006). Dynamics of romantic love: Attachment, caregiving, and sex . New York: GuilfordMikulincer, M. , Shaver, P.R. (2007). Attachment in adulthood: Structure, dynamics, and change . New York: GuilfordNoftle, E.E. , Shaver, P.R. (2006). Attachment dimensions and the big five personality traits: Associations and comparative ability to predict relationship quality. Journal of Research in Personality, 40, 179– 208Schmitt, D.P. , Alcalay, L. , Allensworth, M. , Allik, J. , Ault, L. , Austers, I. (2004). Patterns and universals of adult romantic attachment across 62 cultural regions: Are models of self and of other pancultural construct?. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 35, 367– 402Steiger, J.H. (1990). Structural model evaluation and modification: An interval estimation approach. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 25, 173– 180Tucker, L.R. , Lewis, C. (1973). A reliability coefficient for maximum likelihood factor analysis. Psychometrika, 38, 1– 10
