A Study on Fear of Intimacy and Attachment Styles among Young Women

Abstract

Fear of intimacy and attachment style both influence an individual's romantic relationship. Fear of intimacy stems from the atmosphere in our homes, as we look up to our major caregivers, i.e. our parents, during our early stages of development. As we become older, the things that have had the greatest impact on us begin to manifest themselves in our relationships, but we cannot blame our relationship difficulties solely on our parents or early experiences. Our personality, as well as our experiences during infancy, adolescence, and adulthood, all contribute to the development of our attachment style, which affects our relationships and can lead to our fear of intimacy. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between fear of intimacy and attachment style among young women. Sample of 35 females aged 18 – 25 years was taken. Standardized scales were used to measure fear of intimacy and attachment style. The results found out that there is a significant correlation between the different style of attachment with each other. Therefore, it can be said that if one has one style of attachment then the effect of other types can be there. Though, there is no significant correlation between attachment style and fear of intimacy, but fear of intimacy is also seen among the young women. Attachment style can affect young women’s interpersonal relationships. So, it's important to know about one's style and work on it for a healthy relationship. Fear intimacy can also prevent an individual from having healing relationships therefore it is important to focus on this aspect of one’s personality as well so that one can lead an emotionally fulfilling personal life alongside a flourishing mental well-being.