Centennial Honors College
Western Illinois University
Undergraduate Research Day 2014
Poster Presentation
Attached to Our Phones: The relationship between Adult Attachment Styles and
Cell Phone Reliance
Ryanzo Perez
Faculty Mentor: David Lane and Jill Myers
Psychology
Cellular phone usage is the ubiquitous method of day-to-day communication. Though
research about cellular phone reliance is readily available, few studies examine how
individual differences, like adult attachment style, impact this reliance. Since cell phone
reliance and attachment style impact communication interaction, some relationship must
exist. Adult Attachment Theory suggests that the way in which we approach
relationships is shaped by the interaction between how negatively we view ourselves
(anxiousness) and others (avoidance). This research investigated the potential
relationship between adult attachment style and cellular phone reliance. Specifically, the
research examined the predictions that: (1) participants with a preoccupied (high
anxious/low avoidance) attachment style would have a high level of cellular phone
reliance; (2) those with a fearful (high anxious/high avoidance) attachment style would
have a low level of cellular phone reliance; and (3) participants with secure (low
anxious/low avoidance) and dismissive (low anxious/high avoidance) attachment styles
would fall between those who were preoccupied and fearful. Participants included 129
students attending a public, midwestern university. Participants completed an online
survey that explored their attitudes about interpersonal relationships and their normal
behaviors and mindsets regarding cellular phone use. Though statistical analysis
showed a marginally significant relationship (p=.065) relationship between adult
attachment style and cell phone reliance, the predicted order of prevalence was
rejected. Fearfully attached individuals had the highest level of cell phone reliance
(M=3.29), followed by preoccupied (M=3.141), secure (M=2.983), and dismissive
(M=2.766).