Attachment style in close relationships

The ECR-S (Experiences in Close Relationships–Short, Wei et al.) is the validated short attachment scale. It places you on two dimensions — relationship anxiety and intimacy avoidance — producing four attachment styles. Answer for your usual pattern in close or romantic relationships.

Attachment theory holds that adult patterns of closeness and worry in intimate relationships continue early caregiving experiences. The ECR-S quantifies this into two axes: anxiety (fear of abandonment, reassurance-seeking) and avoidance (discomfort with closeness).

Items 1, 3, 5, 7 are reverse-scored; anxiety is the mean of items 2/4/6/8/10/12 and avoidance the mean of 1/3/5/7/9/11. Each axis splits at the scale midpoint (4.0) into high/low, giving the four styles.

No type is simply 'bad': secure is most resilient, anxious deeply invested, dismissive self-reliant, fearful swings between approaching and withdrawing. Knowing your pattern is step one.

Source: ECR-S (Wei, Russell, Mallinckrodt & Vogel, 2007) · The ECR-S is widely distributed in academic and public testing contexts; Chinese items are our careful translation of the published wording. · Original source

How much does each statement describe your experience in close relationships?

1. It helps to turn to my romantic partner in times of need
2. I often worry that my partner will not want to stay with me
3. I find it easy to depend on romantic partners
4. I worry a lot about my relationships
5. I usually discuss my problems and concerns with my partner
6. When I'm not involved in a relationship, I feel somewhat anxious and insecure
7. I feel comfortable depending on romantic partners
8. I get frustrated when my partner is not around as much as I would like
9. I don't feel comfortable opening up to romantic partners
10. I resent it when my partner spends time away from me
11. I am nervous when partners get too close to me
12. I worry that romantic partners won't care about me as much as I care about them