Reliability and validity of the revised experiences in close relationships (ECR-R) self-report measure of adult romantic attachment

Pers Soc Psychol Bull. 2005 Nov;31(11):1524-36. doi: 10.1177/0146167205276865.

Abstract

Three studies examine the psychometric properties (i.e., the test-retest reliability, convergent, and discriminant validity) of Fraley, Waller, and Brennan's Revised Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-R) self-report measure of romantic attachment anxiety (model of self) and avoidance (model of others). Longitudinal analyses suggest that the ECR-R provided highly stable indicators of latent attachment during a 3-week period (85% shared variance). Hierarchical linear modeling analyses further validated the ECR-R, suggesting that it explained between 30% to 40% of the between-person variation in social interaction diary ratings of attachment-related emotions experienced during interactions with a romantic partner and only 5% to 15% of that in interactions with family and friends. Guidelines are offered regarding the conditions where highly reliable and precise measures of romantic attachment, such as the ECR-R, are deemed necessary and where shorter, albeit slightly less reliable measures, such as Bartholomew and Horowitz's Relationship Questionnaire, may also be viable.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anxiety / psychology
  • Emotions
  • Factor Analysis, Statistical
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interpersonal Relations
  • Love*
  • Male
  • Models, Psychological
  • New Zealand
  • Object Attachment*
  • Psychological Tests*
  • Psychometrics
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires*