Explaining whether, how, and why people change or stay the same over their lifetime is a fundamental issue in psychological research. This project seeks to explain changes and continuities in people's experiences of attachment security in close relationships. What happens in people's close relationships has serious implications for their welfare. Relationship problems are frequently associated with negative outcomes such as depression, violence, and divorce, to name just a few. As such, understanding why people become more or less secure in relationships over time will be important for promoting both individual and dyadic well being. The project has three goals. The first is to investigate how life experiences and the ways in which people view those experiences contribute to changes in attachment security over short and longer time periods. The second is to examine whether changes in security are more reactive to life circumstances for some people, but not others. The third objective is to examine the extent to which people experience the same levels of security across all of their romantic relationships versus base their level of security on aspects of each new relationship. These issues will be examined using diverse methods. To capture day-to-day fluctuations in security, two experiments that attempt to induce change in levels of security will be conducted. In addition, a diary study of daily experiences with a group of dating couples will be conducted to examine daily changes in security in response to real-life relationship circumstances. Finally, a longitudinal study that follows Participants over two years will be conducted to examine change and continuity in attachment security in response to important life events and new relationships. ? ?

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01MH063904-02
Application #
6776336
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZRG1-RPHB-4 (01))
Program Officer
Kozak, Michael J
Project Start
2003-07-15
Project End
2007-04-30
Budget Start
2004-05-01
Budget End
2005-04-30
Support Year
2
Fiscal Year
2004
Total Cost
$301,000
Indirect Cost
Name
State University New York Stony Brook
Department
Psychology
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
804878247
City
Stony Brook
State
NY
Country
United States
Zip Code
11794
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Hershenberg, Rachel; Davila, Joanne; Yoneda, Athena et al. (2011) What I like about you: the association between adolescent attachment security and emotional behavior in a relationship promoting context. J Adolesc 34:1017-24
Hershenberg, Rachel; Davila, Joanne (2010) Depressive symptoms and sexual experiences among early adolescent girls: interpersonal avoidance as moderator. J Youth Adolesc 39:967-76
Starr, Lisa R; Davila, Joanne (2009) Clarifying co-rumination: associations with internalizing symptoms and romantic involvement among adolescent girls. J Adolesc 32:19-37
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