NCJ Number
209458
Journal
International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology Volume: 49 Issue: 2 Dated: April 2005 Pages: 210-220
Date Published
April 2005
Length
11 pages
Annotation
This comparative analysis examined the relationship between adult attachment and social support seeking behavior in terms of its impact on offender behavior among nonviolent offenders and college students.
Abstract
While previous research has probed the impact of attachment orientation and its correlates, such as social support, on an individual’s ability to deal with life stressors, relatively little research has focused on the developmental and behavioral aspects of adult attachment and risk factors as they relate to offender behavior. The current research compared nonviolent offenders with a sample of college students in terms of the relationship between adult attachment and the ability to seek social support as factors mediating behavior. Participants were a sample of 59 nonviolent, low-risk offenders who were residents of a correctional halfway house and a sample of 89 college students who were recruited from undergraduate classes. Participants completed the Experiences in Close Relationships Attachment Scale (ECR), the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), and the Social Support Questionnaire-Revised (SSQR). Results of ANOVA and t test analyses indicated 50 percent of offenders and 24.7 percent of college students reported secure attachments. A full 37.1 percent of college students were considered preoccupied in their attachment, but more nonviolent offenders than college students were considered dismissively attached. The findings hold implications for counseling in so far as understanding clients’ attachment styles could help counselors predict expectations and the use of social support by clients. Future research should focus on the self-report instruments currently available to measure attachment and social support. Tables, references