Exploring the Relationship Between Transitional Object Attachment and Emotion Regulation in College Students

Background/Objectives: Transitional attachment objects, such as blankets, play a critical role in childhood by helping children manage separation anxiety and regulate emotions. Although attachment to these objects often decreases as children grow older, it may persist into adulthood and influence emotion regulation and stress responses. Their influence on emotion regulation in adulthood remains uncertain. This study investigates the relationship between object attachment and emotion regulation, with a focus on responses to stress among college students. The study objectives include examining whether emotional regulation varies based on an individual's attachment to objects and investigating the role and significance of objects in the emotional regulation of adults with object attachment. Methods: Forty-five participants aged 18-22 were recruited to participate and completed the Object Attachment Security Measure (OASM) and the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ). Participants were categorized into two groups based on their OASM scores: those with attachment objects (the OA group) and those without (the control group). The OA group was randomly assigned into two experimental groups: (1) Carry-but-cannot-touch (CBCT) and (2) Carry-and-touch (CAT). The CBCT group was not allowed to physically interact with their attachment objects during the recovery phase, whereas the CAT group could do so. Psychophysiological data, including Standard Deviation of NN Intervals (SDNN) and respiratory rate, were collected during three phases: baseline, stress, and recovery. Results: There were no differences in the ERQ scores between the OA and control groups, as well as between the CAT and CBCT subgroups. However, physiological indicators revealed that the CAT group exhibited higher SDNN during recovery than the CBCT group, suggesting that physical interaction with the attachment object enhanced stress regulation and promoted relaxation. Conclusions: While object attachment did not impact self-reported emotional regulation, it did influence physiological responses to stress, indicating that attachment objects may facilitate emotional recovery through tactile interaction. These findings highlight the potential of attachment objects as adaptive tools for stress management in young adults.