Attachment Styles Scale (ASS)
Measures individual differences in adult attachment styles, specifically secure, avoidant, and anxious/ambivalent attachment.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Attachment Styles Scale (ASS) was developed by Thomas E. Becker, Robert S. Billings, Daniel M. Eveleth, Nicole W. Gilbert (1997). It is designed to measure Adult Attachment Styles. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 25 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Secure, Anxious/Ambivalent, Avoidant, Unclassified.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Secure | 1,9,12,13,19,20,22,23,25 | 9 |
| Anxious/Ambivalent | 3,5,7,11,15,21,24 | 7 |
| Avoidant | 4,6,14,16,17,18 | 6 |
| Unclassified | 2,8,10 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Very characteristic of me, 2 = 2, 3 = 3, 4 = 4, 5 = 5, 6 = 6, 7 = Not at all characteristic of me.
The scale includes 6 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 characteristic of the style: 1 – 3
- Moderate characteristic of the style: 4 – 5
- High characteristic of the style: 6 – 7
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Secure: alpha = 0.80, Avoidant: alpha = 0.79, Anxious/Ambivalent: alpha = 0.82.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 8 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.