This study aimed to examine attachment and adult separation anxiety (ASA) among women who lost a parent in their youth. We hypothesized that insecure attachment and increased ASA from a romantic partner would be found among women who have lost a parent in youth, compared to women whose parents were both alive. Sixty women who lost one or both parents in their youth and 60 who had living parents participated in the study (mean age: 32.3, range: 18–62 years). Participants filled out the ASA and Short Attachment questionnaires. Women who lost a parent reported higher levels of anxious attachment and ASA from partner; the two groups did not differ, however, in terms of avoidant attachment. Additionally, similar effects on ASA and attachment were found among adult women who lost a father or a mother in their youth. In conclusion, the loss of a parent early in life may be associated with an insecure attachment style and increased ASA.

中文翻译：

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青少年时期失去父母与女性的依恋和成年分离焦虑有何关系？

本研究旨在调查年轻时失去父母的女性的依恋和成人分离焦虑（ASA）。我们假设，与父母均健在的女性相比，年轻时失去父母的女性会发现不安全的依恋和来自浪漫伴侣的 ASA 增加。60 名年轻时失去父母的女性和 60 名父母健在的女性参与了这项研究（平均年龄：32.3 岁，范围：18-62 岁）。参与者填写了 ASA 和短附件调查问卷。失去父母的女性对伴侣的焦虑依恋和 ASA 水平更高；然而，两组在回避型依恋方面并无差异。此外，在年轻时失去父亲或母亲的成年女性中也发现了对 ASA 和依恋的类似影响。总之，早年失去父母可能与不安全的依恋方式和 ASA 增加有关。