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Exploring the Link Between Attachment Styles and Gaslighting Acceptance: A Cross-Sectional Study on Romantic Relationships
Wijsbeek, Anna Alina (2025) Exploring the Link Between Attachment Styles and Gaslighting Acceptance: A Cross-Sectional Study on Romantic Relationships.
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| Abstract: | Gaslighting is a subtle and harmful form of psychological abuse where individuals manipulate others into doubting their perceptions and memories. While attachment styles are known to influence romantic relationships, little research has explored their connection to accepting gaslighting behavior. This study investigated whether emotional aspects of attachment—Close, Depend, and Anxiety—are associated with greater acceptance of gaslighting in romantic relationships. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted with 167 adult participants using the Gaslighting Questionnaire (GQ) and the Revised Adult Attachment Scale (RAAS). Correlation, multiple regression, and moderation analyses were performed to examine relationships between attachment styles, gaslighting acceptance, and socio-demographic variables like gender and educational level. The analysis revealed no significant correlations between the RAAS subscales and the acceptance of gaslighting. Furthermore, no moderating effects were found for gender or education; participants' educational levels were not significant predictors of gaslighting acceptance. These findings suggest that emotional attachment dimensions alone cannot adequately explain the acceptance of gaslighting. Future studies should explore other potential psychological and attachment-related factors, as these results did not show significant effects of attachment styles. |
| Item Type: | Essay (Bachelor) |
| Faculty: | BMS: Behavioural, Management and Social Sciences |
| Subject: | 77 psychology |
| Programme: | Psychology BSc (56604) |
| Link to this item: | https://purl.utwente.nl/essays/107201 |
| Export this item as: | BibTeX EndNote HTML Citation Reference Manager |
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