Adult Attachment Scale (AAS) and Revised-Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS)
The Adult Attachment Scale (AAS) was created by Nancy Collins and Stephen Read in 1990. It measures individual differences in adult attachment styles, focusing on feelings about romantic relationships and general interpersonal interactions. The Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS), developed by Nancy Collins in 1996, includes three subscales: closeness, dependency, and anxiety, to assess comfort with intimacy, reliance on others, and fear of rejection. Both scales target adults and are widely used in psychological research and clinical settings.
Who Can Use?
The Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS) is a self-report measure, meaning it can be administered by the individuals themselves. However, it is often used in research settings by psychologists and researchers to study attachment styles. Therapists may also use the RAAS to better understand their client’s attachment patterns and inform treatment plans.
Where can I Find this Assessment?
This assessment is available at: https://www.carepatron.com/templates/adult-attachment-scale
Citations
Teixeira, R. C. R., Ferreira, J. H. B. P., & Howat-Rodrigues, A. B. C. (2019). Collins and Read Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS) validity evidences. PSICO, 50(2). https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2019.2.29567.
Attachment Relationships Questionnaire (ARQ) also known as the Relationships Questionnaire (RQ)
The Attachment Relationships Questionnaire (ARQ) , also known as the Relationships Questionnaire (RQ), was developed by Kim Bartholomew and Leonard M. Horowitz in 1991. It is a brief, 4-item self-report tool designed to assess adult attachment styles. It specifically categorizes individuals into one of four attachment styles: 1.) secure, 2.) fearful, 3.) preoccupied, or 4.) dismissing-avoidant. The assessment measures how individuals typically think, feel, and behave in close relationships, based on attachment theory. The target age group for the assessment is young adults and adults, typically starting from late adolescence onward.
Who Can Use?
The Attachment Relationships Questionnaire (ARQ) also known as the Relationships Questinnaire (RQ) is a self-report tool that can be administered by researchers, educators, clinicians, or even individuals themselves. However, the interpretation of the results is best done by someone trained in attachment theory or psychological assessment.
Where can I Find this Assessment?
This assessment can be found at: https://backend.fetzer.org/sites/default/files/images/stories/pdf/selfmeasures/Attachment-RelationshipsQuestionnaire.pdf
Citations
Bartholomew, K. & Horowitz, L. M. (1991). Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four category model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61, 226-244.
Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ)
The Attachment Relationships Questionnaire (ARQ), also known as the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) was developed in 1994 by Judith A. Feeney, Patricia Noller, and Mary Hanrahan. It is a self-report assessment designed to measure adult attachment styles. It focuses on five dimensions: Confidence, Discomfort with closeness, Need for Approval, Preoccupation with Relationships, and Relationships as Secondary. The ASQ is primarily intended for use with adults, particularly young adults and university students, as reflected in its initial validation sample. It helps researchers and clinicians understand how individuals perceive and behave in close relationships, based on their attachment-related thoughts and feelings.
Who Can Use?
The Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ) is a self-report measure designed for use with adults. It can be administered by researchers, clinicians, or educators, but because it involves interpreting nuanced psychological constructs, interpretation is best handled by professionals trained in attachment theory or psychological assessment.
Where can I Find this Assessment?
This assessment can be found at: https://novopsych.com/assessments/formulation/attachment-style-questionnaire-short-form-asq-sf/
Citations
Feeney, J. A., Noller, P., & Hanrahan, M. (1994). Assessing adult attachment. In M. B. Sperling & W. H. Berman (Eds.), Attachment in adults: Clinical and developmental perspectives (pp. 128–152). New York: Guilford Press.
Experiences in Close Relationships – Revised (ECR-R) Questionnaire
The Experiences in Close Relationships – Revised (ECR-R) Questionnaire was developed in 2000 by R. Chris Fraley, Nathan G. Waller, and Kerry A. Brennan as an update to the original ECR scale from 1998. It is a self-report measure designed to assess adult attachment styles along two dimensions: attachment-related anxiety (fear of rejection and abandonment) and attachment-related avoidance (discomfort with closeness and dependence). The ECR-R uses Item Response Theory to improve the precision and reliability of the original scale. It is intended for use with adults, particularly in the context of romantic or emotionally close relationships.
Who Can Use?
The ECR-R (Experiences in Close-Relationships-Revised) is a self-administered questionnaire, meaning that any adult can complete it on their own without the need for a licensed professional to administer it. However, for clinical use or research interpretation, it is recommended that a trained mental health professional, counselor, or researcher interpret the results to ensure accurate understanding and application. In educational or informal settings, instructors, students, or individuals interested in attachment theory can also use the ECR-R, provided they understand it’s theoretical background and scoring system.
More information is available at the following link: https://labs.psychology.illinois.edu/~rcfraley/measures/ecrr.htm.
Where can I Find this Assessment?
This assessment can be found at: https://backend.fetzer.org/sites/default/files/images/stories/pdf/selfmeasures/Attachment-ExperienceinCloseRelationshipsRevised.pdf
Citations
Fraley, R. C., Waller, N. G., & Brennan, K. A. (2000). An item-response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 350-365.
Experiences in Close Relationships – Relationship Structures (ECR-RS)
The Experiences in Close Relationships – Relationship Structures (ECR-RS) is a 9-item self-report questionnaire developed by R. Chris Fraley, Marie E. Heffernan, Amanda M. Vicary, and Claudia C. Brumbaugh in 2011 as an extension of the 2000 ECR-R measure. It assesses two core dimensions of adult attachment– attachment anxiety (worry about rejection or unmet needs) and attachment avoidance (discomfort with closeness and dependence) — within specific relationship contexts such as mother, father, romantic partner, and best friend. Although primarily validated with adults, its adaptable format has been applied to a variety of age groups and relationship targets in research settings.
Who Can Use?
The Experiences in Close Relationships – Relationship Structures (ECR-RS) is a self-report measure, so it does not require a licensed clinician to administer. It can be administered by researchers, mental health professionals, educators and trained staff or individuals themselves.
Where can I Find this Assessment?
You can find this assessment, as well as, scoring information here: https://labs.psychology.illinois.edu/~rcfraley/measures/relstructures.htm.
Citations
Fraley, R. C., Niedenthal, P. M., Marks, M. J., Brumbaugh, C. C., & Vicary, A. (2006). Adult attachment and the perception of emotional expressions: Probing the hyperactivating strategies underlying anxious attachment. Journal of Personality, 74, 1163-1190.
A full report on the ECR-RS itself was published in Psychological Assessment. This report discusses the development of the measure and shows the associations between attachment across a variety of relational domains. This paper also reports the associations between the ECR-RS and the ECR-R and a variety of other measures of interpersonal and relational functioning (e.g., depressive symptomology, relationship satisfaction, the Big Five personality traits).
Fraley, R. C., Heffernan, M. E., Vicary, A. M., & Brumbaugh, C. C. (2011). The Experiences in Close Relationships-Relationship Structures questionnaire: A method for assessing attachment orientations across relationships. Psychological Assessment, 23, 615-625.
Information on the stability of ECR-RS scores when used as a “state” measure of attachment is reported in the following article:
Fraley, R. C., Vicary, A. M., Brumbaugh, C. C., & Roisman, G. I. (2011). Patterns of stability in adult attachment: An empirical test of two models of continuity and change. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101, 974-992.
Additional data (e.g., large sample means, SDs) and information on types vs. dimensions:
Fraley, R. C., Hudson, N. W., Heffernan, M. E., & Segal, N. (2015). Are adult attachment styles categorical or dimensional? A taxometric analysis of general and relationship-specific attachment orientations. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.
State Adult Attachment Measure (SAAM)
The State Adult Attachment Measure (SAAM) was developed in 2009 by Omri Gillath, Hart, Noftle, and Stockdale to assess moment-to-moment (state-level) variations in adult attachment patterns. Unlike traditional trait-based attachment measures, the SAAM captures how individuals feel, “right now” in terms of attachment-related anxiety, avoidance and security. It consists of 21 Likert-scale items and is designed for use with adults, particularly in research or clinical settings where temporary emotional states are relevant. The SAAM is especially useful for studying how attachment feelings fluctuate in response to specific situations or interventions.
Who Can Use?
The State Adult Attachment Measure (SAAM) is a self-report psychological tool designed to assess momentary (state-level) attachment patterns in adults, focusing on security, anxiety, and avoidance. It can be administered by:
- Researchers** in psychology or social sciences conducting studies on attachment.
- Clinicians** such as psychologists, counselors, or therapists using it as part of therapeutic assessment.
- Educators or students** in academic settings for learning or research purposes.
- Individuals** for self-reflection, though interpretation should ideally be guided by a professional.
There are no formal licensing restrictions for administering the SAAM, but it is important to cite the original source/ (Gillath et al., 2009) and use it ethically, especially in clinical or research contexts.
Where can I Find this Assessment?
A copy of the assessment can be found at the University of Kansas Gillath Lab at: https://gillab.ku.edu/sites/gillab/files/files/State_adult_attachment_measure_final_version%20with%20coding%20(Accessible).pdf
Citations
Gillath, Omri & Hart, Joshua & Noftle, Erik & Stockdale, Gary. (2009). Development and validation of a State Adult Attachment Measure (SAAM). Journal of Research in Personality. 43. 362-373. 10.1016/j.jrp.2008.12.009.
The Revised Hazan & Shaver (1987) Three Category Measure
The Revised Hazan & Shaver Three Category Measure was developed by Cindy Hazan and Phillip Shaver in 1987. It is an assessment designed to measure adult attachment styles, specifically categorizing individuals into three types: secure, avoidant, and anxious/ambivalent. The measure evaluates how people typically think, feel, and behave in romantic relationships, base on attachment theory. Its target age group is primarily adults, as it focuses on romantic and close interpersonal relationships rather than childhood attachment.
Who Can Use?
The Revised Hazan & Shaver (1987) Three Category Measure can be used by: Researchers and psychologists studying adult attachment patterns in romantic relationships. Counselors and therapists as part of relationship or couples counseling to understand attachment dynamics. Educators and students in psychology courses for learning about attachment theory and its applications. Individuals interested in self-reflection and understanding their own attachment style, though it is primarily intended for research and educational purposes rather than as a diagnostic tool.
Where can I Find this Assessment?
The assessment can be found at: https://labs.psychology.illinois.edu/~rcfraley/measures/h&s.html.
Citations
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. R. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 511-524.