measures the extent to which a person is worried about being rejected and abandoned (Collins & Read, Table 2;
cf.Collins, 1996 , pp. 814 /C0815). Respondents rate each item on a 5-point Likert-type scale. Collins (1996) revised
the scale by replacing a few items to improve reliability and validity. The revised 18-item version correlated .98
with the original version ( N5295).
Sample
Collins and Read (1990) collected data from 406 undergraduates (184 males; 206 females) ranging in age from
17 to 37 years ( M518.8 years). In a second study, Collins and Read utilized a sample of 118 undergraduates
ranging in age from 17 to 24 years ( M518.6 years). In a third study, Collins and Read employed a sample of 71
dating couples ranging in age from 18 /C044 years ( M522 years). Subsequently, Collins (1996) utilized samples of
135 undergraduates (53 male; 82 female) ranging in age from 18 to 25 years ( M518.7 years), of whom, 55% were
in a romantic relationship. In a replication study, Collins (p. 821) utilized a further sample of 129 undergraduates
(56 male; 73 female) ranging in age from 17 to 30 years ( M519.2 years).
Reliability
Internal Consistency
Collins and Read (1990, p. 646) reported Cronbach alpha coefficients for the three subscales (Close, Depend,
and Anxiety) of .69, .75, and .72, respectively ( N5406). Subsequently, Collins (1996, p. 814) reported alpha coeffi-
cients of .77, .78, and .85, respectively. In the Collins (1996) replication study ( N5129), alpha coefficients for the
three subscales were found to be .82, .80, and .83, respectively (Collins, p. 821).
Test/C0Retest
A subset ( N5101) of Collins and Read’s (1990) sample completed the AAS again two months later. Stability
coefficients for Close, Depend, and Anxiety subscales were found to be .68, .71, and .52, respectively (Collins &
Read, p. 647).
Validity
Convergent/Concurrent
Positive correlations indicative of convergent/concurrent validity were reported by Collins and Read (1990,
Table 8, p. 652) . Subsequently, in a sample of 135 undergraduates, the Close and Depend subscales of the AAS
correlated .53 with each other ( Collins, 1996 , p. 814). In the replication sample of 129 undergraduates, the Close
and Depend subscales correlated .67 (Collins, p. 821). Also, positive associations between the Close and Depend
subscales and other measures of adult attachment have been reported. Thus, the Close subscale correlated posi-
tively (.25 with love/security, .29 with responsive/dependable, .16 with self-worth/reliance, .15 with trust, .30
with partner warmth/closeness, and .26 with minimizing negative impact). Likewise, the Depend subscale corre-
lated positively (.27 with love/security, .16 with responsive/dependable, .14 with self-worth/reliance, .17 with
trust, .38 with partner warmth/closeness, .28 with minimizing negative impact) ( Collins, 1996 , p. 816). Additional
positive correlations with various other measures indicative of convergent/concurrent validity also have been
reported (see Collins, 1996 , Table 2).
Divergent/Discriminant
Numerous negligible or negative correlations indicative of divergent/discriminant validity had been reported
byCollins and Read (1990, Table 8, p. 652) . Subsequently, Collins (1996, p. 814) reported that the Anxiety sub-
scale correlated 2.34 with the Close subscale, and 2.46 with the Depend subscale. In the replication sample, the
Anxiety subscale correlated 2.28 with the Close subscale, and 2.46 with the Depend subscale (Collins, p. 821).
As well, Collins (p. 816) reported ( N5135) that the Anxiety subscale correlated 2.25 with love/security, 2.21
with responsive/dependable, 2.20 with self-worth/reliance, 2.18 with trust, 2.34 with partner warmth/close-
ness, and 2.27 with minimizing negative impact. Additional negligible or negative correlations with various
other measures indicative of divergent/discriminant validity also have been reported (see Collins, 1996 , Table 2).
Construct/Factor Analytic
As indicated above, in constructing the original AAS, Collins and Read (1990) conducted an exploratory factor
analysis with oblique rotation ( N5406) based on the 21 321 item intercorrelation matrix and extracted three fac-
tors that clearly defined the AAS structure (see Collins & Read, Table 2, p. 647, for the factor loadings on each of421 MEASURES OF ATTACHMENT ORIENTATION OR ATTACHMENT STYLE
IV. INTERPERSONAL STYLES