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He Loves Me; He Loves Me Not: Attachment and Separation Resolution of Abused Women

NCJ Number
169581
Journal
Journal of Family Violence Volume: 12 Issue: 2 Dated: (June 1997) Pages: 169-191
Author(s)
A J Z Henderson; K Bartholomew; D G Dutton
Date Published
1997
Length
23 pages
Annotation
The attachment patterns of 63 abused women were assessed shortly after they left their abusive relationships to determine the women's success at emotional separation from their abusive partners.
Abstract
The participants' perceptions, feelings, and behaviors regarding the separation were assessed 6 months later to determine an overall level of separation resolution. The participants completed questionnaires at both times and semistructured interviews at Time 1. Results revealed that, as expected, attachment patterns associated with a negative self model were overrepresented. Eighty-eight percent of the sample had a predominant pattern of fearful or preoccupied attachment. In addition, preoccupation was associated with shorter relationship lengths, more frequent previous separations form the abusive relationship, continuing emotional involvement with partners after separation, and more frequent sexual contact with partners. Findings suggest that preoccupation related to less successful separation resolution following abusive relationships. Tables and 67 references (Author abstract modified)