The study examined how attachment security affects military personnel's decision to remain attached or detach from their partners before deployment. The findings indicated that those with secure attachments were less likely to detach due to fear of rejection than those who had insecure attachment styles. Participants were asked about their relationship history, current partner status, and anticipated separation length; these factors were used as predictors for attachment security. Results showed that higher levels of pre-deployment intimacy predicted greater stability in relationships among both men and women, while women's pre-deployment intimacy also predicted lower rates of disengagement during separation.
The present research aimed to examine how anxiety-related traits may influence attachment behaviors prior to combat exposure and relational decision-making during the intermission between deployments. The sample consisted of active-duty Army soldiers deployed to Afghanistan (N 40) who filled out questionnaires assessing their pre-deployment relational status, attachment style, and general anxiety levels during their pre-deployment phase. Measures included the Military Attachment Security Questionnaire (MASQ), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS). Statistical analyses revealed that individuals with high anxious preoccupations were more prone to feel distressed by their partner's departure and experience heightened distrust in relationships compared to those without such preoccupations.
Participants with secure attachment patterns displayed a greater tendency towards avoidant attachment in relation to conflict and threat avoidance when facing potential threats to closeness or commitment in their partnerships.
It was discovered that those with dismissive attachments exhibited fewer positive affect states than those with secure ones, suggesting that this type of insecure attachment may make it difficult to maintain healthy relationships during periods of separation.
How does anticipation of combat influence attachment behaviors and relational decision-making?
Although some research has investigated how people respond to the prospect of conflict, there is little information on how this experience affects interpersonal attachments. It is unclear whether individuals with prior exposure to violence are more likely to form strong relationships than those who have not experienced it. Researchers hypothesize that individuals may become emotionally attached to their comrades during warfare, leading them to seek out intimacy even when they return home.