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Related Concept Videos

Attachment Styles01:24

Attachment Styles

Jeffrey Simpson's attachment theory suggests that early caregiver relationships shape lasting patterns of behavior and emotional regulation, known as attachment styles. These patterns are organized along two key dimensions: self-esteem and interpersonal trust. The intersection of these dimensions produces four primary attachment styles that typically persist throughout life and significantly influence how individuals form and maintain relationships.Secure Attachment StyleIndividuals with a...
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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 17, 2026

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Attachment style and immunity: a 1-year longitudinal study.

Angelo Picardi1, Rossella Miglio, Lorenzo Tarsitani

  • 1Mental Health Unit, Center of Epidemiology and Health Surveillance & Promotion, Italian National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy. angelo.picardi@iss.it

Biological Psychology
|October 18, 2012
PubMed
Summary

High attachment-related avoidance in women is linked to reduced NK cell cytotoxicity, a key immune function. This study highlights the connection between psychological attachment styles and physiological health outcomes.

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Published on: March 25, 2016

Area of Science:

  • Psychoneuroimmunology
  • Attachment Theory
  • Health Psychology

Background:

  • Previous research indicated a link between attachment avoidance and immune system changes.
  • Longitudinal data was needed to confirm this association.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the longitudinal relationship between attachment styles and immune function in female nurses.
  • To examine how attachment-related avoidance and anxiety correlate with specific immune markers.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort of 65 female nurses provided blood samples and completed psychological assessments.
  • Immune function was measured by lymphocyte proliferative response (LPR) and NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC).
  • Data were collected at baseline and at 4, 8, and 12 months, analyzed using linear mixed effects models.

Main Results:

  • High attachment-related avoidance showed a significant negative association with NK cell cytotoxicity (NKCC).
  • No significant associations were found between NKCC and attachment-related anxiety.
  • Lymphocyte proliferative response (LPR) was not associated with either dimension of attachment.

Conclusions:

  • Attachment-related avoidance, particularly at high levels, may negatively impact specific immune functions like NKCC.
  • Findings support the broader concept that psychological attachment is connected to physiological health.
  • Further research with larger, diverse samples is warranted to confirm these results.