The Effects of a Remote Security Attachment Prime, and Subsequent Repeated Primes, upon Perceptions of Social Support in a Healthy Student Sample

Abstract

Objective: The current study investigated the effects of both single and repeated security attachment primes, compared to neutral attachment primes, on increasing state perceptions of social support, positive affect and decreasing perceived stress in a healthy student sample. Methods: The study employed a mixed between- and within-subjects design, with participants (N = 118) remotely receiving either a security attachment prime or a neutral attachment prime followed by daily repeated security attachment primes or neutral attachment primes, over a five day period. Baseline self-report measures included dispositional attachment style, perceived social support, stress and the impact of COVID-19. Self-report state measures of felt security (manipulation check), perceived social support, positive affect and stress were measured pre prime, post prime and on four subsequent days. Results: Findings suggest that, during a global pandemic, participants receiving a remote (one-off) security attachment prime reported significantly higher levels of state felt security post prime when compared to participants receiving a (one-off) neutral attachment prime. However, no significant differences were found with regard to the other assessed variables - state perceived social support, positive affect or perceived stress. During the repeated aspect of the study, no significant differences were found, between conditions, for state perceived social support, positive affect or felt security, though some evidence was found to suggest that with repeated security attachment primes, participants report less perceived state stress than those receiving repeated neutral attachment primes. Conclusions: Though findings are mixed, the research does highlight the possible utility of remote security attachment primes in experimentally manipulating state felt security and, in addition, the potential use of repeated security attachment primes in reducing state perceived stress. Though further research is required, and recommendations for this are provided, the findings are relevant to models of attachment theory and the future delivery of remote clinical interventions. Keywords: Attachment, security priming, repeated priming, perceived social support, stress, positive affect.