Attachment Style, Affect Regulation, and Supervision Outcomes
Open AccessAttachment Style, Affect Regulation, and Supervision OutcomesThis study seeks to expand the existing empirical literature pertaining to the formation of strong and successful supervisory relationships by examining associations among self-rated supervisee attachment, supervisory working alliance, and supervisee (counselor) development. This study also examines the role of affect regulation in mediating the relationships between attachment, working alliance, and counselor development. Instruments used include the Working Alliance Inventory - Trainee version (WAI-T; Bahrick, 1990), the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ; Feeney, Noller, & Hanrahan, 1994), the Differentiation of Self Inventory (DSI; Skowron & Friedlander, 1998), and the Supervisee Levels Questionnaire - Revised (SLQ-R; McNeill, Stoltenberg, & Romans, 1992). Additionally, the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI; Spielberger, Gorsuch, & Lushene, 1970) was used to gather information on feelings of anxiety as a way to control potential differences in felt anxiety across attachment styles. Information on race/ethnicity, age, gender, relationship status, and counseling/supervision experience, was also collected.Participants included a total of 69 Master's level counseling students at programs accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). Data were collected via internship classes at participating counselor training programs at one of the first class meetings (Time 1) and again approximately three months later at the end of the semester (Time 2). Results indicate a significant relationship among attachment and working alliance, as well as between attachment and counselor development. As predicted, the association between secure attachment and working alliance was positive, as was the association between secure attachment and development. A significant negative association was observed between insecure attachment and both working alliance and development. The change in development associated with secure attachment was significantly greater than the change in development associated with insecure attachment.Though attachment was observed to have a significant relationship to affect regulation these associations were non-specific and the predicted mediating role of affect regulation was not observed. Supplemental analysis revealed significant relationships also between attachment style and anxiety, as well as between anxiety and working alliance. Suggestions are made for both future research and clinical practice.
- All rights reserved
Notice to Authors
If you are the author of this work and you have any questions about the information on this page, please use the Contact form to get in touch with us.