Differences in Resilience and Mental Health Symptoms Among US First Responders With Secure and Insecure Attachment

Abstract

Objective 

This observational study aimed to determine whether attachment style predicted first responders' mental health and resilience.

Method 

Data were from a treatment-seeking sample of first responders (N = 237). Each participant completed six assessments measuring attachment, resilience, generalized anxiety, depression, suicidality, and posttraumatic stress disorder.

Results 

On the attachment assessment, 25.3% were categorized as secure, 19.0% as dismissive, 25.3% as preoccupied, and 30.4% as fearfully attached. As predicted, securely attached participants had the lowest scores for generalized anxiety, depression, suicidality, and posttraumatic stress disorder and the highest scores on the resiliency measure, followed by dismissive, preoccupied, and fearfully attached participants.

Limitations 

These data are cross-sectional and causality cannot be inferred.

Conclusions 

Results highlight the importance of the study of attachment to psychotherapy and mental health treatment with first responders.

In Brief

Explain to clients in their clinical practice why identifying their personal attachment style is an important therapeutic step and how therapy could eventually modify attachment styles and subsequently improve mental health.