Jankovičová, Jasmina (2025) The Role of Adult Attachment Dimensions and Lingering Attachment in Prolonged Grief Symptoms. Bachelor thesis, Psychology.
![[img]](https://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/style/images/fileicons/text.png) |
Text
JasminaJankovicovas5190320GR32BachelorThesis.pdf Restricted to Repository staff only Download (270kB) |
Abstract
Prolonged grief disorder (PGD) in adults is characterized by persistent yearning, emotional pain, and functional impairment following the death of a loved one. While adult attachment has long been used to explain individual differences in grief outcomes, empirical evidence regarding the contributions of attachment dimensions of anxiety and avoidance to prolonged grief symptom severity remains mixed. The current study examined whether these attachment dimensions are associated with prolonged grief symptoms and whether lingering attachment–defined as the ongoing psychological desire to rely on the deceased to meet attachment-related needs–explains additional variance in grief severity. A sample of 351 bereaved adults (Mean age = 45.6 years; 63% female) completed self-report measures assessing prolonged grief symptoms (TGI-SR+), attachment anxiety and avoidance dimensions (ECR-SF), and lingering attachment (WHOTO). Both attachment dimensions were positively associated with prolonged grief symptoms, with attachment anxiety showing a stronger effect. Crucially, lingering attachment accounted for an additional 21.1% of the variance in prolonged grief symptoms beyond the general attachment dimensions and emerged as the strongest individual correlate. The findings suggest that grief-specific relational processes (e.g., lingering attachment to the deceased) may be particularly relevant for understanding who experiences more intense and prolonged grief responses. Grief therapies may be improved by encouraging bereaved individuals to gradually form new meaningful relationships and emotional connections with living others.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Eisma, M.C. and Breeuwsma, G. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | None [Bachelor Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 16 Jul 2025 11:12 |
| Last Modified: | 16 Jul 2025 11:12 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/5558 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |