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Linking Romantic Attachment and Self-Injury: The Roles of the Behavioural Systems

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 February 2017

Angela Caron ,
Marie-France Lafontaine  and
Jean-François Bureau
Angela Caron*
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Vanier Hall, Ontario, Canada
Marie-France Lafontaine
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Vanier Hall, Ontario, Canada
Jean-François Bureau
Affiliation:
School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Vanier Hall, Ontario, Canada
*
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Angela Caron, School of Psychology, University of Ottawa, Vanier Hall, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier Private, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, K1N 6N5. Email: angela.caron@uottawa.ca
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Abstract

Attachment theory is considered an explanatory framework for understanding non-suicidal self-injury. Despite theoretical postulations, few studies have examined links between romantic attachment and its interconnected systems (the caregiving and sexual systems) and self-injury. This study investigated whether self-injurious thoughts and behaviours could be predicted by the functioning of the three systems. Two-hundred and sixty-three young adults participated in the study. Results revealed that participants endorsing self-injurious thoughts experience greater attachment anxiety and avoidance, controlling and compulsive romantic caregiving behaviours, and lower sexual satisfaction than participants with no thoughts. Conversely, findings indicate that the behavioural systems did not predict self-injurious behaviours. Such findings suggest that dimensions of the three interrelated behavioural systems hold unique roles in understanding young adult self-injurious thoughts, and that the constructs that predict self-injurious thoughts may differ from those that predict self-injurious behaviours.

Keywords

non-suicidal self-injuryyoung adultsattachmentcaregivingsexual satisfactioncouple relationships
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 8 , 2017 , e4
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2017 

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