Measure of Attachment Qualities

Abstract

The Measure of Attachment Qualities (MAQ), published by Carver in 1997, is a 14-item self-report instrument designed to assess dimensional aspects of adult attachment. The scale items were largely derived from earlier measures, specifically the AAS and ASM, which were based on decompositions of the prototypes found in the Adult Attachment Questionnaire (AAQ). Each item is rated on a four-point Likert-type scale, ranging from “strongly agree” to “strongly disagree,” notably excluding a neutral option. Factor analysis of the MAQ revealed four primary factors: Avoidance, Security, Ambivalence-Worry (related to fear of abandonment), and Ambivalence-Merger (related to an intense desire for closeness).

Keywords

Attachment theory, Adult Attachment, Avoidance, Ambivalence, Security, Likert scale, Psychological assessment, MAQ, Carver (1997), Relationship Styles.

Authors

Charles S. Carver

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Measure of Attachment Qualities (MAQ) is to provide a concise and empirically derived dimensional assessment of individual differences in adult attachment styles. It was developed to test and elaborate on the conceptual components underlying relationship patterns, moving beyond simple categorical classifications.

The scale aims to differentiate between four hypothesized facets of relationship quality: Avoidance, Security, and two distinct forms of Ambivalence (Worry and Merger). By separating these components, the MAQ sought to offer a more nuanced understanding of the structure of adult attachment insecurity.

Construct

The MAQ measures adult attachment quality, defined as the characteristic patterns of feeling, thinking, and behaving in close relationships. This construct is central to attachment theory, which posits that early caregiver interactions shape internal working models that influence adult relational behavior.

The instrument specifically operationalizes four dimensions of attachment quality identified through factor analysis: Avoidance (discomfort with intimacy and dependence), Security (comfort with closeness and reliance on others), Ambivalence-Worry (preoccupation with partners’ commitment and fear of abandonment), and Ambivalence-Merger (an intense desire for closeness and fusion with a partner).

Validity

The validity of the MAQ was assessed through comparisons with other established self-report measures of attachment. Comparison with the Adult Attachment Questionnaire (AAQ) confirmed largely expected relationships between the corresponding factors, lending support for the MAQ’s ability to tap into established attachment dimensions.

However, comparisons with the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) and the Relationship Styles Questionnaire (RSQ) were found to be somewhat problematic. While general relationships emerged, the MAQ did not clearly differentiate between two specific styles of avoidance, which are often required by the RQ framework. Furthermore, cluster analysis performed on MAQ scores, solving for both three- and four-cluster models, suggested that the results were best interpreted within an underlying three-component model of attachment, despite the extraction of four factors in the initial analysis.

Reliability

The MAQ was developed and tested across four distinct studies, indicating a focus on establishing replicable findings regarding its factor structure and external correlates. Although specific internal consistency coefficients (e.g., Cronbach’s alpha) were not detailed in the source content, the systematic derivation of the majority of items from previously validated scales (AAS and ASM) suggests a foundation of conceptual reliability.

Factor Analysis

The instrument’s structure was determined via a factor analysis utilizing oblique rotation. This analysis resulted in the identification of four distinct factors that collectively accounted for 61% of the total scale variance. These factors were Avoidance, Security, Ambivalence-Worry, and Ambivalence-Merger. The factors for avoidance and security were found to be loosely and inversely related.

A subsequent second-order factor analysis was conducted, yielding two high-order factors that were statistically unrelated (r = 0.03). One high-order factor served to distinguish between security and avoidance, while the second factor differentiated between the two forms of ambivalence (Worry and Merger). This structure suggests that attachment insecurity, as measured by the MAQ, organizes into two independent, higher-level domains.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychological scale

Format: 14 items scored on a four-point Likert-type scale (Strongly Agree to Strongly Disagree), with no neutral option.

Language Available: English (Original publication)

Population Group: Adults

Age Group: Adult (Specific age range not provided)

Population Details: Participants in four studies detailed by Carver (1997).

Test Methodology: Administration of self-report items; scoring involves summation of items across the four factors, noting that certain items require reverse scoring (R).

Keywords

MAQ, Carver, 1997, Attachment styles, Ambivalence-Worry, Ambivalence-Merger, Factor analysis, AAQ, RSQ, RQ, Adult Relationships.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A

Affiliation Email addresses: N/A

Correspondence Address: N/A

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 1997

Permissions & Fee: Specific information regarding current licensing, fees, or permissions for the MAQ is not provided in the source documentation. Researchers and practitioners should contact the author, Charles S. Carver, for usage rights and permissions.

Reference’s

Carver, C. S. (1997). Measure of Attachment Qualities (MAQ). Published paper describing four studies.

The source documentation for this entry is available online: http://www.richardatkins.co.uk/atws/page/49.html

Items of the Measure of Attachment Qualities

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

Avoidance

• I get uncomfortable when someone wants to be very close (Av)
• I find it easy to be close to others (S) (R)
• I prefer not to be too close to others (Av)
• I am very comfortable being close to others (S) (R)
• Others want me to be more intimate than I feel comfortable being (Av)

Ambivalence-Worry

• I often worry that my partner doesn’t really love me (Amb)
• I often worry my partner will not want to stay with me (Amb)
• I don’t worry about others abandoning me (S) (R)

Ambivalence-Merger

• I have trouble getting others to be as close as I want them to be (Amb)
• I find others often are reluctant to get as close as I would like (Amb)
• My desire to merge sometimes scares people away (Amb)

Security

• When I’m close to someone it gives me a sense of comfort about life in general (S)
• It feels relaxing and good to be close to someone (S)
• Being close to someone gives me a source of strength for other activites (S)

Notes:
(R) = Reverse scored item
(S) = Secure, (Av) = Avoidant, (Amb) = Anxious/Ambivalent