Research in Ageing and Cognitive Health, School of Psychology, Bangor University, Bangor, Gwynedd, UK.
Aging Ment Health. 2012;16(7):845-54. doi: 10.1080/13607863.2012.667779. Epub 2012 Apr 10.
The process of developing and living with dementia may activate attachment feelings and behaviours in people with dementia (PwD) and their carers. By obtaining information from both PwD and carer, we aimed to provide information on the nature and concordance of attachment patterns within the dyad and to examine the relative contribution of attachment representations in PwD and carers to the well-being of both parties.
Ninety-seven PwD and their carers completed categorical and dimensional ratings of attachment. PwD also rated their self-concept, mood and quality of life. Carers rated the functional ability of PwD and neuropsychiatric symptoms and measures of subjective well-being.
People with dementia reported more insecure than secure attachment, with the most frequently reported style being dismissive attachment. Attachment security for PwD was related to more positive self-concept and less symptoms of anxiety. Attachment was not related to quality of life in PwD, but mood and self-concept were strong predictors of quality of life. Carer attachment security was related to their psychological health. Distress at symptoms and MMSE score of the PwD were the strongest predictors of stress. There was no association between PwD and carer attachment styles; PwD working models of attachment did not predict carer well-being and vice versa.
Attachment representations may be important for the psychological well-being of PwD and carers, but there was no evidence of the reciprocal nature of attachment within these dyads.
痴呆症的发展和生活过程可能会激活痴呆症患者（PwD）及其照顾者的依恋感和行为。通过从 PwD 和照顾者双方获取信息，我们旨在提供有关二人组内依恋模式的性质和一致性的信息，并研究 PwD 和照顾者的依恋表现对双方福祉的相对贡献。
97 名 PwD 和他们的照顾者完成了依恋的分类和维度评分。PwD 还对他们的自我概念、情绪和生活质量进行了评分。照顾者对 PwD 的功能能力、神经精神症状和主观幸福感进行了评分。
痴呆症患者报告的不安全依恋多于安全依恋，最常见的报告风格是回避型依恋。PwD 的依恋安全性与更积极的自我概念和更少的焦虑症状有关。依恋与 PwD 的生活质量无关，但情绪和自我概念是生活质量的重要预测因素。照顾者的依恋安全性与他们的心理健康有关。PwD 的症状困扰和 MMSE 评分是压力的最强预测因素。PwD 和照顾者的依恋风格之间没有关联；PwD 的依恋工作模式不能预测照顾者的幸福感，反之亦然。
依恋表现可能对 PwD 和照顾者的心理健康很重要，但在这些二人组中没有依恋的相互关系的证据。
