Article Attachment insecurities and identification of at-risk individuals following the death of a loved one Angelique M. Jerga 1 , Phillip R. Shaver 2 , and Ross B. Wilkinson 1 Abstract We examined variables that might identify at-risk individuals following the death of a significant other. Previous research indicates attachment anxiety is associated with more intense grief, while avoidant individuals seem to cope with loss as well as secure individuals. Participants in this study (368 adults aged 17–49) completed an online survey measuring general and relationship-specific attachment insecurities, relationship charac- teristics, loss circumstances, and typical and prolonged grief symptoms. General attachment anxiety and avoidance were related to prolonged grief symptoms but not to typical symptoms. Relationship-specific anxiety was positively related to grief symp- toms, while specific avoidance was negatively related. The results support the distinc- tion between general and specific attachment insecurities and between normative and prolonged grief reactions. Keywords adjustment, attachment, bereavement, coping, death, grief, loss, prolonged grief 1 Australian National University, Australia 2 University of California, Davis, USA Corresponding author: Angelique M. Jerga, Department of Psychology, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, Building 39, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia Email: angelique.jerga@anu.edu.au Journal of Social and Personal Relationships 28(7) 891–914 ª The Author(s) 2011 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav DOI: 10.1177/0265407510397987 spr.sagepub.com J S P R at UNIV CALIFORNIA DAVIS on February 9, 2015 spr.sagepub.com Downloaded from