Experience in Close Relationships-Revised Short Form (ECR-R18)

Abstract

The Experience of Close Relationships Questionnaire Short Version (ECR-R-18) is an 18-item self-report Psychological Scale designed to measure individual differences in adult attachment styles within the context of romantic relationships. Developed by Wongpakaran and Wongpakaran in 2012, this instrument serves as an efficient and psychometrically sound short form of the widely used Revised Experience of Close Relationships Questionnaire (ECR-R). The ECR-R-18 assesses the two primary dimensions of adult attachment: Attachment Anxiety and Attachment Avoidance. The scale was specifically validated across both non-clinical and clinical samples, demonstrating its applicability in diverse research and therapeutic settings where the efficient measurement of relational patterns is crucial.

Keywords

ECR-R-18, Experience of Close Relationships, Attachment Anxiety, Attachment Avoidance, Adult Attachment, Psychological Assessment, Close Relationships, Romantic Relationships, Short Form Questionnaire.

Authors

Tinakon Wongpakaran, Nahathai Wongpakaran

Purpose

The primary purpose of the ECR-R-18 is to provide researchers and clinicians with a concise yet reliable tool for assessing the two fundamental dimensions of adult attachment in romantic relationships. While the original ECR-R scale contains 36 items, the length can be prohibitive in studies involving multiple measures or in clinical settings requiring rapid assessment. The ECR-R-18 addresses this need by reducing the item count to 18 while maintaining the robust psychometric properties of the full scale.

Specifically, the instrument aims to capture the degree to which an individual experiences discomfort with intimacy and dependence (Avoidance) and the degree to which they worry about being rejected or abandoned by their partner (Anxiety). Its validation across both non-clinical and clinical samples ensures its utility not only in general population studies but also in psychiatric and therapeutic contexts where attachment insecurity may contribute to mental health issues or relational distress.

Construct

The ECR-R-18 measures the psychological construct of Adult Attachment, rooted firmly in Attachment Theory, originally developed by John Bowlby and later applied to adult relationships by Hazan and Shaver. This framework posits that early interactions with primary caregivers create internal working models that influence how individuals perceive and engage in close relationships throughout their lives.

The scale operationalizes this construct through two orthogonal dimensions: Attachment Anxiety and Attachment Avoidance. High scores on the Anxiety dimension reflect hyperactivation of the attachment system, characterized by excessive worry, fear of abandonment, and reliance on partner approval. High scores on the Avoidance dimension reflect deactivation of the attachment system, characterized by discomfort with closeness, preference for self-reliance, and minimization of emotional expression towards a partner. These two dimensions allow for the classification of individuals into the four traditional attachment styles: Secure (low Anxiety, low Avoidance), Preoccupied (high Anxiety, low Avoidance), Dismissing (low Anxiety, high Avoidance), and Fearful (high Anxiety, high Avoidance).

Validity

The Construct Validity of the ECR-R-18 was rigorously examined by the authors through confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and comparisons with established measures. The successful replication of the two-factor structure (Anxiety and Avoidance) across diverse populations, including both healthy controls and psychiatric patients, provides strong evidence for its structural validity. This confirms that the 18 items effectively load onto the intended theoretical dimensions.

Furthermore, evidence for convergent and discriminant validity is typically established by correlating the ECR-R-18 scores with other measures of relational functioning, personality traits, and psychological distress. The Anxiety and Avoidance subscales are expected to correlate positively with relevant psychological indicators, such as relationship satisfaction (inversely), neuroticism, and symptoms of depression or anxiety, demonstrating that the short version accurately captures the relational insecurity measured by the original ECR-R.

Reliability

The Reliability of the ECR-R-18, essential for any clinical or research instrument, is typically assessed through measures of internal consistency and test-retest reliability. The authors of the 2012 study reported acceptable to excellent internal consistency for both subscales across the samples investigated. High internal consistency, usually measured using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient, indicates that the items within each subscale are highly homogeneous and measure the same underlying construct.

Specifically, the 9-item Anxiety subscale and the 9-item Avoidance subscale demonstrated reliability coefficients that met or exceeded conventional standards for psychological scales, confirming that the reduction in item count did not significantly compromise the measurement precision compared to the full 36-item ECR-R. While the specific test-retest data are not provided in the abstract, the short version is generally expected to show good temporal stability, reflecting the relatively stable nature of adult attachment orientations over time.

Factor Analysis

The development of the ECR-R-18 relied heavily on factor analytic methods, primarily Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), to ensure that the reduced set of items maintained the established underlying structure of the full ECR-R. The study’s findings supported a clear, two-factor model consistent with the theoretical dimensions of Attachment Theory: Attachment Anxiety and Attachment Avoidance.

This two-factor solution provided a superior fit to the data compared to single-factor models, validating the scale’s ability to differentiate between the two distinct facets of relational insecurity. The item selection process for the short version was optimized to ensure that the chosen 18 items provided the highest factor loadings and maximized the explained variance, resulting in a measure that is both brief and structurally robust.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychological inventory/Questionnaire

Format: 18 items rated on a 7-point Likert scale (1=Strongly Disagree to 7=Strongly Agree)

Language Available: English (Original research published in English; subsequent translations may exist)

Population Group: Adults involved in or reflecting upon close romantic relationships

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (Typically 18 years and older)

Population Details: Validated in both Non-Clinical (general population) and Clinical Samples (e.g., psychiatric patients), demonstrating broad applicability.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate their level of agreement with 18 statements concerning their feelings and behaviors within close relationships. Scoring involves summing the item responses for the two distinct subscales: Anxiety and Avoidance.

• Anxiety Items (9 items): 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18
• Avoidance Items (9 items): 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17 (Note: Items 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17 are reverse-scored, as they reflect secure or comfortable relational behaviors, which are inversely related to Avoidance.)

Keywords

Psychometrics, Adult Attachment Styles, ECR-R, Relational Assessment, Clinical Psychology, ECR-R-18, Relationship Quality, Psychological Inventory, Self-Report.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected], [email protected]

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source content (Affiliation is likely Chiang Mai University, Faculty of Medicine, based on email domain).

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The ECR-R-18 was published in 2012, developed by Tinakon Wongpakaran and Nahathai Wongpakaran. As a derivation of the ECR-R, the instrument is often utilized freely for non-commercial academic research, although users should always consult the original publication or contact the authors regarding formal permissions for use, especially in large-scale commercial or clinical applications. The original article detailing the scale’s development is openly accessible online, suggesting a high degree of accessibility for researchers.

Reference’s

The primary reference for the development and validation of the Experience of Close Relationships Questionnaire Short Version (ECR-R-18) is:

• Wongpakaran T, Wongpakaran N. (2012). A Short Version of the Revised ‘Experience of Close Relationships Questionnaire’: Investigating Non-Clinical and Clinical Samples. Clinical Practice & Epidemiology in Mental Health; 8:36-42. The original PDF can be downloaded here: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3367387/pdf/CPEMH-8-36.pdf

• The ECR-R-18 instrument itself is found on page 39 of the cited publication.

Items of the Experience of Close Relationships Questionnaire Short VersionECR-R-18

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

The scale uses a 7-point Likert response format:

1. 1=Strongly Disagree
2. 2=Disagree
3. 3=Slightly Disagree
4. 4=Neutral
5. 5=Slightly Agree
6. 6=Agree
7. 7=Strongly Agree

The 18 items are:

• 1. I prefer not to show a partner how I feel deep down.

• 2. I often worry that my partner doesn’t really love me.

• 3. I feel comfortable sharing my private thoughts and feelings with my partner.

• 4. When my partner is out of sight‚ I worry that he or she might become interested in someone else.

• 5. I find it relatively easy to get close to my partner.

• 6. My romantic partner makes me doubt myself.

• 7. I usually discuss my problems and concerns with my partner.

• 8. I often worry that my partner will not want to stay with me.

• 9. I find it easy to depend on romantic partners.

• 10. I worry a lot about my relationships.

• 11. I tell my partner just about everything.

• 12. When I show my feelings for romantic partners‚ I’m afraid they will not feel the same about me

• 13. It’s not difficult for me to get close to my partner.

• 14. Sometimes romantic partners change their feelings about me for no apparent reason.

• 15. I talk things over with my partner.

• 16. I worry that romantic partners won’t care about me as much as I care about them.

• 17. It helps to turn to my romantic partner in times of need.

• 18 I worry that I won’t measure up to other people.

Scoring Key:

• Anxiety Subscale: Items 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, and 18.

• Avoidance Subscale: Items 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17. (Note: Items 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, and 17 are reverse-scored.)