RELATIONSHIP QUESTIONNAIRE

Abstract

The Relationship Questionnaire (RQ), developed by Bartholomew and Horowitz in 1991, is a concise self-report measure designed to assess Adult Attachment styles in close relationships. The RQ consists of four distinct paragraphs, each functioning as a single item, describing a prototypical attachment pattern: Secure, Fearful, Preoccupied, and Dismissing. Participants rate their degree of correspondence to each prototype on a 7-point scale, generating a profile of their attachment feelings and behavior. While the RQ can be used categorically, its ideal application involves obtaining continuous ratings of the four attachment styles, which allows for the derivation of underlying dimensional scores.

The RQ is often discussed alongside the Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ; Griffin & Bartholomew, 1994), which provides a more extensive dimensional assessment. Researchers are strongly advised to consult relevant academic literature, such as the work of Phil Shaver, to fully understand the context of adult attachment measurement.

Keywords

Attachment, Adult Attachment, Relationship Questionnaire, RQ, Bartholomew, Horowitz, Self-Report Measure, Attachment Styles, Prototype, Psychological Scale.

Authors

Bartholomew, K., Horowitz, L. M.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) is to identify an individual’s general orientation toward close relationships by assessing their adherence to four specific attachment prototypes. This measure is adaptable; it can be worded to assess general close relationship orientations, orientations specific to romantic relationships, or even orientations within a single, specific relationship context.

The RQ facilitates both continuous and categorical measurement of attachment. Although designed primarily for continuous rating, which is the recommended approach for sophisticated analysis, it includes a forced-choice component that allows researchers to classify participants into a single, best-fitting attachment category when necessary.

Construct

The RQ is grounded in the four-category model of adult attachment, which expands upon the traditional Secure/Insecure dichotomy by incorporating two underlying dimensions: the Model of Self (internal working model of self-worth or anxiety) and the Model of Other (internal working model of others’ trustworthiness or avoidance).

The four derived attachment prototypes measured by the RQ are:

• Secure Attachment: Positive Self-Model, Positive Other-Model.
• Preoccupied Attachment: Negative Self-Model, Positive Other-Model.
• Dismissing Attachment: Positive Self-Model, Negative Other-Model.
• Fearful Attachment: Negative Self-Model, Negative Other-Model.

These four relationship styles are presented as narrative descriptions, and the participant rates how well each prototype corresponds to their own relationship style.

Validity

It is crucial to note that the foundational validation research for the attachment model upon which the RQ is based did not rely exclusively on this self-report measure. Specifically, the validation results published in Bartholomew & Horowitz (1991) were derived primarily from ratings obtained via the Peer Attachment Interview (PAI).

Furthermore, subsequent validation of the underlying Attachment Dimensions (Griffin & Bartholomew, 1994) was based on a comprehensive set of multiple measures, including various interview methods, ensuring that the theoretical model was robustly supported beyond the limitations inherent in single-item self-reports.

Reliability

While the source content does not provide specific psychometric reliability coefficients (such as Cronbach’s alpha), the measure is designed for consistency across contexts. The administration protocol emphasizes using both the forced-choice selection (categorical) and the Likert rating scales (continuous) to minimize potential order effects and ensure robust data collection, even if the forced-choice data is not ultimately utilized.

Factor Analysis

The RQ, while measuring four distinct prototypes, is fundamentally structured to reflect the two underlying Attachment Dimensions (Model of Self and Model of Other). These dimensions are derived through linear combinations of the continuous prototype ratings:

• Self Model: Calculated as (Secure score + Dismissing score) MINUS (Fearful score + Preoccupied score). This dimension relates inversely to attachment anxiety. Researchers can reverse this calculation to align with the anxiety dimension convention: (Fearful score + Preoccupied score) MINUS (Secure score + Dismissing score), where higher scores indicate a more negative self-model.
• Other Model: Calculated as (Secure score + Preoccupied score) MINUS (Fearful score + Dismissing score). This dimension relates inversely to attachment avoidance.

The derivation of these dimensional scores confirms the scale’s theoretical basis in the two-dimensional framework of adult attachment.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-Report Questionnaire

Format: Single-item measure comprising four descriptive paragraphs, rated on a 7-point Likert scale (1 = Not at all like me, 7 = Very much like me).

Language Available: English (Original)

Population Group: Adults in close peer or romantic relationships.

Age Group: Adult population.

Population Details: Applicable to various contexts, including general orientations, romantic relationships, or specific close relationships. Can be adapted for third-person use (e.g., rating a friend or partner).

Test Methodology: Combined forced-choice selection (to identify the single best-fitting style) followed by continuous Likert-scale rating of all four prototypes.

Keywords

Attachment Dimensions, Model of Self, Model of Other, Secure, Fearful, Preoccupied, Dismissing, Relationship Styles, PAI, Continuous Measurement.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Information not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Information not provided in source content.

Correspondence Address: Information not provided in source content.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The initial publication of the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ) was 1991. The accompanying dimensional analysis and the Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ) were published in 1994. Researchers interested in usage permissions should consult the authors or the institution linked to the original resource: Simon Fraser University (SFU). The original source page is: http://www.sfu.ca/psyc/faculty/bartholomew/selfreports.htm.

Reference’s

• Bartholomew, K., & Horowitz, L. M. (1991). Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four-category model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 61, 226-244.
• Griffin, D., & Bartholomew, K. (1994). Models of the self and other: Fundamental dimensions underlying measures of adult attachment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Vol. 67, 430-445.
• Griffin, D., & Bartholomew, K. (1994). Metaphysics of measurement: The case of adult attachment. In K. Bartholomew & D. Perlman (Eds.), Advances in personal relationships, Vol. 5: Attachment processes in adulthood (pp.17-52). London: Jessica Kingsley.

Items of the RELATIONSHIP QUESTIONNAIRE

PLEASE READ THE DIRECTIONS!

1. Following are descriptions of four general relationship styles that people often report.

Please read each description and CIRCLE the letter corresponding to the style that best describes you or is closest to the way you generally are in your close relationships.

A. It is easy for me to become emotionally close to others. I am comfortable depending on them and having them depend on me. I don’t worry about being alone or having others not accept me.

B. I am uncomfortable getting close to others. I want emotionally close relationships‚ but I find it difficult to trust others completely‚ or to depend on them. I worry that I will be hurt if I allow myself to become too close to others.

C. I want to be completely emotionally intimate with others‚ but I often find that others are reluctant to get as close as I would like. I am uncomfortable being without close relationships‚ but I sometimes worry that others don’t value me as much as I value them.

D. I am comfortable without close emotional relationships. It is very important to me to feel independent and self-sufficient‚ and I prefer not to depend on others or have others depend on me.

***

2. Please rate each of the following relationship styles according to the extent to which you think each description corresponds to your general relationship style.

A. It is easy for me to become emotionally close to others. I am comfortable depending on them and having them depend on me. I don’t worry about being alone or having others not accept me.

B. I am uncomfortable getting close to others. I want emotionally close relationships‚ but I find it difficult to trust others completely‚ or to depend on them. I worry that I will be hurt if I allow myself to become too close to others.

C. I want to be completely emotionally intimate with others‚ but I often find that others are reluctant to get as close as I would like. I am uncomfortable being without close relationships‚ but I sometimes worry that others don’t value me as much as I value them.

D. I am comfortable without close emotional relationships‚ It is very important to me to feel independent and self-sufficient‚ and I prefer not to depend on others or have others depend on me.

(Rating Scale: 1 = Not at all like me to 7 = Very much like me)