Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire – Revised (ECR-R)
Measures individual differences in attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance in adult romantic relationships.
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 Styles. 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 18 to 126. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Attachment Insecurity: 18 – 54
- Moderate Attachment Insecurity: 55 – 90
- High Attachment Insecurity: 91 – 126
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha typically exceeds .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.