Attachment style and optimism : a study to assess the relationship between optimism and attachment style and the subsequent effects on biopsychosocial health

Abstract

The current study investigated the relationship between attachment style and optimism. The relationship between optimism and general health, physical functioning and emotional wellbeing were also measured. Participants were 108 members of the general public (39 Males and 69 females, mean age = 34.8). A correlation design was employed. The variables were optimism, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, physical functioning, general health and emotional wellbeing. A series of Kendall's tau_b correlations coefficients were applied to test for statistical significance. The results support the hypoFinal Year Project and show a significant negative correlation between optimism and attachment anxiety (tau_b = -.617. p<0.05, 2 tailed) and between optimism and attachment avoidance (tau b = -.610. p <0.05, 2 tailed). The results also show a significant positive correlation between optimism and physical health (tau_b =.265. p<0.05, 2 tailed) general health (tau_b =.339. p<0.05, 2 tailed) and emotional wellbeing (tau b =.351 p<0.05, 2 tailed). These results support Lopez and Brennan's (2000) findings that optimism may predict optimal psychological and physical health.