correlated positively with attachment anxiety (.38), with avoidance (.33), with passive coping (.46), and with
diverting coping (.45).
Divergent/Discriminant
Positive beliefs about others correlated negatively with attachment-related avoidance ( 2.24). Seeking social
support correlated negatively with attachment-related avoidance ( 2.32). Perception of receiving social support
correlated negatively with attachment anxiety ( 2.19), avoidance ( 2.43), and diverting coping ( 2.26). Positive
reactions to receiving social support correlated negatively with attachment-related avoidance ( 2.36). Also, nega-
tive reactions to receiving social support correlated negatively with reappraisal coping ( 2.19).
Construct/Factor Analytic
Frı´as et al. performed a series of principal components analyses followed by varimax rotation, one for each of
the following sections: beliefs about others’ intentions to help, seeking social support, perceiving social support,
and reactions to receiving social support. The results indicated that both the seeking and the perceiving social
support sections of the SSS were unidimensional, whereas beliefs about others’ intentions and emotional reac-
tions to social support were bidimensional. Therefore, both the beliefs and the emotional reactions sections were
divided into positive and negative subscales.
Location
Frı´as, M., Shaver, P. R., & Dı ´az-Loving, R. (2014). Cultural syndromes as moderators of the relation between
attachment insecurities, coping, and social support. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships ,31,3/C031.
Results and Comments
Evidence of convergent validity of the SSS with the ECR insecurity scales fits with anxious individuals’ previ-
ously documented ambivalence and attempts to induce a relationship partner to pay more attention and provide
better care (see Mikulincer & Shaver, 2009 ). These results also fit with anxious individuals’ heightened distress,
even when their partners are rated by observers as behaving positively toward them ( Campbell et al., 2005 ).
Avoidance predicted negative reactions to receiving social support and was negatively associated with seeking
social support, perception of received social support as helpful, and reacting positively to social support. These
results accord with Bowlby’s concept of ‘compulsive self-reliance.’
SOCIAL SUPPORT SCALE BASED ON ATTACHMENT THEORY
The following statements concern what you think
about how people relate to others and establish bonds
with them. If you agree strongly with a statement, indi-
cate 6. If you disagree strongly, indicate 1. If your degree
of agreement or disagreement falls between those
extremes, choose one of the values from 2 to 5. Please
answer honestly; your data will remain anonymous.
Beliefs about others socially supportive
behavior items
1.Everyone would like to help others.
2.People help mainly to make themselves feel good.
3.People help mainly because they care about
others.
4.People help others mainly when they feel they owe
them something.
5.People help because they are generous.
6.People help in order to get something in return.
7.People help because they know others need them.
8.People help in order to appear good.9.People help because they are truly compassionate.
10.People help because they truly want to.
11.People often help someone because they feel
grateful for what they received from him/her in
the past.
12.There is something inside people that drives them to
help others.
13.People help in order to strengthen their
relationships with others.
Seeking social support items
The next set of questions concerns people you turn to
when you are troubled or in need. Keeping those people
in mind, complete the following sentences:
When I am in trouble or need, I ask them ...
14.To understand my feelings.
15.To comfort me.
16.To help me perform physical tasks that are hard for
me to do.442 15. MEASURES OF ADULT ATTACHMENT AND RELATED CONSTRUCTS
IV. INTERPERSONAL STYLES