Experiences in Close Relationships Scale

Abstract

The Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (ECR) is a widely utilized self-report measure designed to assess individual differences in adult romantic attachment. Developed by Brennan, Clark, and Shaver in 1998, the ECR is instrumental in operationalizing the two primary, continuous dimensions of attachment styles: attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. By synthesizing items from numerous preceding scales, the ECR provides a psychometrically robust tool for researchers and clinicians seeking to quantify relational orientations in adult close relationships, moving beyond earlier categorical classifications.

Keywords

Experiences in Close Relationships Scale, ECR, Attachment Theory, adult romantic attachment, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, self-report, psychological assessment, close relationships.

Authors

Kelly A. Brennan, C. L. Clark, Phillip R. Shaver.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the ECR is to provide a robust, psychometrically sound instrument for measuring the underlying dimensions of adult romantic attachment in research settings. It was created through a rigorous factor analysis of items derived from 60 pre-existing attachment measures, aiming to distill the most reliable and distinct components of attachment insecurity into a single, comprehensive scale.

Specifically, the scale serves to quantify the degree to which an individual experiences discomfort with closeness and dependence (avoidance) and the degree to which they worry about their partner’s availability and responsiveness (anxiety). This dimensional approach allows researchers to precisely locate individuals within the attachment space, facilitating deeper analysis of relationship dynamics, outcomes, and therapeutic interventions.

Construct

The ECR measures the two fundamental dimensions of attachment insecurity, as defined within modern Attachment Theory applied to adult relationships. These two dimensions are considered orthogonal (independent) and form a continuous space within which all attachment styles are situated: Secure, Preoccupied (High Anxiety, Low Avoidance), Dismissing-Avoidant (Low Anxiety, High Avoidance), and Fearful-Avoidant (High Anxiety, High Avoidance).

• Attachment Anxiety: This subscale captures the extent to which a person fears abandonment, seeks excessive closeness, and worries that their partner may not reciprocate their feelings or be consistently available. High scores reflect hyperactivation of the attachment system.
• Attachment Avoidance: This subscale reflects discomfort with intimacy, dependence on others, and the tendency to maintain emotional distance in close relationships. High scores reflect deactivation of the attachment system and a preference for self-reliance and emotional independence.

Validity

The ECR demonstrates strong construct validity, evidenced by its clear and consistent two-factor structure corresponding precisely to the theoretical dimensions of anxiety and avoidance. Extensive research confirms strong convergent validity, as the ECR subscales correlate highly with other established, though often longer, measures of adult attachment.

Furthermore, the scale exhibits excellent predictive validity. ECR scores reliably predict various relationship outcomes, including relationship satisfaction, conflict resolution styles, sexual behavior, and emotional regulation abilities within the partnership. Discriminant validity is also established, as the ECR dimensions are distinct from general personality traits like Neuroticism, providing unique insight into relational functioning.

Reliability

The ECR is highly regarded for its robust internal consistency. Across numerous studies and diverse populations, both the Anxiety and Avoidance subscales consistently yield Cronbach’s alpha coefficients well above the acceptable threshold of 0.80, often reaching 0.90 or higher. This high level of internal consistency suggests that the items within each 18-item subscale coherently measure a single underlying construct.

The instrument also shows good test-retest reliability, indicating that the measurement of individual differences in attachment patterns remains stable over time, typically across periods ranging from several weeks to a few months. This stability supports the use of the ECR as a measure of relatively enduring relational orientations rather than transient emotional states.

Factor Analysis

The development of the ECR was based on rigorous factor analytic procedures applied to a comprehensive pool of items gathered from existing attachment measures. Brennan, Clark, and Shaver (1998) utilized principal components analysis on a large sample, which consistently confirmed a clean and robust two-factor solution.

This two-factor structure accounts for a substantial portion of the variance in adult attachment experiences. The 36 items of the ECR are evenly divided, with 18 items loading highly onto the Attachment Anxiety factor and the remaining 18 items loading onto the Attachment Avoidance factor. This clear bifactorial structure is the cornerstone of the ECR’s psychometric strength.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire.

Format: 36 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale.

Language Available: English (Original), widely translated and validated in numerous languages including Spanish, German, Dutch, and Chinese.

Population Group: Adults engaged in or reflecting upon close romantic relationships.

Age Group: Typically 18 years and older (Adult population).

Population Details: Used extensively in non-clinical research, counseling, and psychological studies globally to assess adult relational functioning.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate their level of agreement with each statement using the provided 7-point scale (1=Strongly Disagree to 7=Strongly Agree). Subscale scores are calculated by averaging the responses of the 18 items corresponding to each dimension (Anxiety and Avoidance), with careful attention paid to reversing the scores for designated items (R).

Keywords

Romantic relationships, self-report, psychometrics, relational orientation, attachment styles, emotional regulation, intimacy, dependency, Likert scale.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Information not specified in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Information not specified in source content.

Correspondence Address: Information not specified in source content.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The ECR is a non-proprietary academic instrument widely used in research and is generally available without licensing fees for academic purposes, provided the original source is properly cited. The scale was formally published in 1998.

The original reference is: Brennan, K.; Clark, C.; Shaver, P. (1998). Self-report measures of adult romantic attachment. In J. Simpson and W. Rholes, Attachment Theory and Close Relationships. New York: Guilford Press.

The instrument, including scoring instructions, can be found online at: http://personality-testing.info/tests/ECR.php

Reference’s

• Brennan, K.; Clark, C.; Shaver, P. (1998). Self-report measures of adult romantic attachment. In J. Simpson and W. Rholes, Attachment Theory and Close Relationships. New York: Guilford Press.
• The scoring utilizes a 7-point rating system: 1=Strongly Disagree, 2=Disagree, 3=Slightly Disagree, 4=Neutral, 5=Slightly Agree, 6=Agree, 7=Strongly Agree.

Items of the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. I prefer not to show a partner how I feel deep down.
2. I worry about being abandoned.
3. I am very comfortable being close to romantic partners. (R)
4. I worry a lot about my relationships.
5. Just when my partner starts to get close to me I find myself pulling away.
6. I worry that romantic partners wont care about me as much as I care about them.
7. I get uncomfortable when a romantic partner wants to be very close.
8. I worry a fair amount about losing my partner.
9. I don’t feel comfortable opening up to romantic partners.
10. I often wish that my partner’s feelings for me were as strong as my feelings for him/her.
11. I want to get close to my partner, but I keep pulling back.
12. I often want to merge completely with romantic partners, and this sometimes scares them away.
13. I am nervous when partners get too close to me.
14. I worry about being alone.
15. I feel comfortable sharing my private thoughts and feelings with my partner. (R)
16. My desire to be very close sometimes scares people away.
17. I try to avoid getting too close to my partner.
18. I need a lot of reassurance that I am loved by my partner.
19. I find it relatively easy to get close to my partner. (R)
20. Sometimes I feel that I force my partners to show more feeling, more commitment.
21. I find it difficult to allow myself to depend on romantic partners.
22. I do not often worry about being abandoned. (R)
23. I prefer not to be too close to romantic partners.
24. If I can’t get my partner to show interest in me, I get upset or angry.
25. I tell my partner just about everything. (R)
26. I find that my partner(s) don’t want to get as close as I would like.
27. I usually discuss my problems and concerns with my partner. (R)
28. When I’m not involved in a relationship, I feel somewhat anxious and insecure.
29. I feel comfortable depending on romantic partners. (R)
30. I get frustrated when my partner is not around as much as I would like.
31. I don’t mind asking romantic partners for comfort, advice, or help. (R)
32. I get frustrated if romantic partners are not available when I need them.
33. It helps to turn to my romantic partner in times of need. (R)
34. When romantic partners disapprove of me, I feel really bad about myself.
35. I turn to my partner for many things, including comfort and reassurance. (R)
36. I resent it when my partner spends time away from me.