Correlational study of attachment and self-reported levels of urges to self-harm and frequency of self-harming behaviors in dialectical behavioral therapy clients

This research examined the relationships between attachment style and frequency o f suicidal ideation, urges to self-harm, and action to self-harm in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy patients. The Attachment Style Questionnaire served as the attachment measure. The Diary Cards, used in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, served as the measure for suicide ideation, urges to self-harm and action to self-harm averages. Twenty women from the Omaha YWCA and Therapy Resource Associates participated in the study. Results o f the study suggest that there was no relationship between a high score on Avoidant and Anxious/Ambivalent attachment styles and frequency of suicide ideation, urges to self-harm, and action to self-harm. Comparatively, the study’s results did suggest a high score on the secure attachment style decreased the frequency of suicide ideation