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. 2019 Nov 1;36(11-12):3711-3732.
doi: 10.1177/0265407519832671. Epub 2019 Mar 6.

I am a rock; I am an island: Implications of avoidant attachment for communal coping in adults with type 2 diabetes

Meredith Van Vleet  1 , Vicki S Helgeson  1
Affiliations

I am a rock; I am an island: Implications of avoidant attachment for communal coping in adults with type 2 diabetes

Meredith Van Vleet et al. J Soc Pers Relat. .

Abstract

Accumulating evidence indicates that communal coping is beneficial for individuals with chronic illness. The current investigation examined attachment as a moderator of the effects of communal coping in a sample of persons with type 2 diabetes. We hypothesized that patient communal coping would be associated with higher relationship quality, lower distress, and better diabetes outcomes for patients low in avoidant attachment, but it would not be beneficial for patients high in avoidant attachment. Patient communal coping was coded from videotaped interactions in which 86 heterosexual couples discussed difficulties managing diabetes. The results indicated that patient communal coping was beneficial when avoidant attachment was low. When avoidant attachment was high, patient communal coping was related to lower relationship quality and higher distress and was unrelated to diabetes outcomes. This work sheds light on potential boundary conditions of communal coping's benefits, which will be important to consider in future communal coping interventions.

Keywords: Attachment; chronic illness; close relationships; communal coping; diabetes.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Patient Avoidance × Communal Coping predicting relationship satisfaction. Communal coping was centered before plotting.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Patient Avoidance × Communal Coping predicting psychological distress. Communal coping was centered before plotting.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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