Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire – Revised (ECR-R)
Measures individual differences in adult attachment styles along the dimensions of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire – Revised (ECR-R) was developed by R. Chris Fraley, Niels G. Waller, & Kelly A. Brennan (2000). It is designed to measure Adult Attachment (Anxiety and Avoidance). The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 36 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Attachment Anxiety, Attachment Avoidance.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Attachment Anxiety | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18 | 18 |
| Attachment Avoidance | 19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36 | 18 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 7-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 7 = Strongly Agree).
The scale includes 14 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 7. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Anxiety/Avoidance: 1 – 3
- Moderate Anxiety/Avoidance: 3 – 5
- High Anxiety/Avoidance: 5 – 7
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of High internal consistency (typically alpha > .90 for both subscales).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.