Adult Attachment Questionnaire – AAQ
Measures adult attachment styles across secure, avoidant, and anxious/ambivalent dimensions.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Adult Attachment Questionnaire – AAQ was developed by Jeffry A. Simpson (1990). It is designed to measure Adult Attachment. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 13 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Secure, Avoidant, Anxious/Ambivalent.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Secure | 1,2,3,4,5 | 5 |
| Avoidant | 6,7,8,9 | 4 |
| Anxious/Ambivalent | 10,11,12,13 | 4 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 7-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 7 = 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 7. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low alignment with attachment style: 1 – 3
- Moderate alignment with attachment style: 4 – 5
- High alignment with attachment style: 6 – 7
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Avoidant: alpha = 0.79, Secure: alpha = 0.51, Anxious/Ambivalent: alpha = 0.59.
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.