Attachment and barriers to cervical screening

The present study explored the role of attachment insecurity in cervical screening behaviors and barriers in a sample of 257 female undergraduates. Information on attachment dimensions as well as attachment style was collected. Attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were associated with decreas...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of health psychology 2013-05, Vol.18 (5), p.648-657
Main Authors: Hill, Erin M, Gick, Mary L
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Anxiety
Attachment
Attachment style
Avoidance
Behavioural psychology
Biological and medical sciences
Cancer
Cervical cancer
Early Detection of Cancer - psychology
Emotions
Engagement
Female
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gynecology and obstetrics
Humans
Illness and personality
Insecurity
Middle Aged
Object Attachment
Papanicolaou Test - psychology
Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology
Personality, behavior and health
Psychological Tests
Psychology and medicine
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychology. Psychophysiology
Risk
Risk factors
Screening
Surveys and Questionnaires
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - diagnosis
Uterine Cervical Neoplasms - psychology
Women's health
Young Adult
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Summary:The present study explored the role of attachment insecurity in cervical screening behaviors and barriers in a sample of 257 female undergraduates. Information on attachment dimensions as well as attachment style was collected. Attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were associated with decreased likelihood of having participated in cervical screening and positively associated with screening barriers. Screening barriers were elevated among individuals with insecure attachment styles (preoccupied, fearful, and dismissing), and dismissing participants were less likely to have engaged in screening compared to secure participants. Our findings demonstrate that attachment insecurity may be a risk factor for inadequate cervical screening and screening barriers.
ISSN:1359-1053
1461-7277
DOI:10.1177/1359105312454910