Measure of Attachment Qualities – MAQ
A 14-item self-report scale designed to measure adult attachment patterns across four dimensions: avoidance, security, ambivalence-worry, and ambivalence-merger.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Measure of Attachment Qualities – MAQ was developed by Charles S. Carver (1997). It is designed to measure Adult Attachment. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 14 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Avoidance, Ambivalence-Worry, Ambivalence-Merger, Security.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Avoidance | 1,2,3,4,5 | 5 |
| Ambivalence-Worry | 6,7,8 | 3 |
| Ambivalence-Merger | 9,10,11 | 3 |
| Security | 12,13,14 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Strongly disagree, 2 = Disagree, 3 = Agree, 4 = Strongly agree.
The scale includes 3 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 1 to 4. Interpretation guidelines:
- Subscale scores are typically calculated as the average of the items within each subscale, ranging from 1 to 4. Higher scores indicate higher levels of the respective attachment quality.: 1 – 4
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Four factors accounted for 61% of the variance.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.