Abstract
Background: Although the relationship between attachment security and information processing has been discussed, the relationship with future-related information processing has not been studied extensively. Thinking about the future is common and important. Therefore, the present study examined whether attachment security is reflected in episodic future thinking.
Methods: 155 Chinese participants were asked to generate personally relevant events that could occur in the future and rate the content based on its relationship with interpersonal relationships, emotional valence, emotional intensity, and content quality. The attachment was measured using the ECR-RS.
Results: Structural equation modeling revealed significant paths between attachment avoidance and interpersonal relationships (standardized estimate: -.271), vividness (-.188), emotional valence (-.190), and emotional intensity (-.245), as well as significant paths between attachment anxiety and interpersonal relationships (.181) and emotional valence (-.181).
Conclusion: The deactivation strategy of attachment avoidance and the hyperactivation strategy of attachment anxiety could be reflected in future-related information processing.
