Parental and romantic attachment: Implications for somatic symptom disorder

Rezumat

Numerous studies have examined the relationship between attachment and psychosomatic disorders, yet recent theoretical and clinical developments call for further investigation. This study explored adult attachment to mother, father, and romantic partner in relation to Somatic Symptom Disorder (SSD), as well as differences between individuals with and without the disorder. The sample included 120 participants (60 with SSD) who completed the Attachment Multiple Model Interview (AMMI), the Patient Health Questionnaire-15 (PHQ-15), and the Somatic Symptom Disorder – B Criteria Scale (SSD-12). Attachment to mother was associated with both somatic and psychological symptoms of SSD, whereas attachment to father correlated only with somatic symptoms. For the mother relationship, Security explained 8% of somatic and 7% of psychological symptoms variance, while Inhibition explained 9% of psychological symptoms. For the father relationship, Security explained 10% of somatic symptoms. Overall, findings highlight the relevance of attachment-focused interventions in SSD.