Psychometric Properties of a Brief Spanish Version of the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR) Instrument Applied to Significant Others

Abstract

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Measuring attachment in adulthood is still a challenge. Despite progress in developing brief instruments, there are currently no instruments that assess attachment to significant persons without being limited to a specific type of relationship. The present study aims to develop a brief scale to assess attachment to significant persons (SP), as well as to provide evidence of validity and reliability. For this purpose, the brief Spanish version of the Experiences in Close Relationships instrument was used. 385 emerging adults, divided into two groups, Spanish psychology students and psychotherapists, completed the study online. A two-factor structure (Anxiety and Avoidance) was supported through confirmatory factor analysis. Likewise, evidence of convergent and concurrent validity, respectively, was provided through correlations with the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment and the Relational Needs Satisfaction Scale. The scale also demonstrated gender (men vs. women) and age (18-25 years vs. 26-30 years) invariance and adequate internal consistency. The study has allowed us to obtain a brief 11-item psychometrically robust scale—the ECR-SP11—which helps to understand attachment styles in clinical practice and psychotherapeutic research. The instrument’s applicability through more heterogeneous samples should be explored.