[Convergence of the Adult Attachment Prototype Rating (AAPR) with different self assessment measures of attachment characteristics].

Within the past years there has been a controversial discussion on the adequate assessment of attachment (observational vs. self report). Based upon data from a student sample (N = 65), the aim of this study was to determine the convergence between the interview-based AAPR (Adult Attachment Prototype Rating) and eleven different self-report measures to assess attachment characteristics. With the exception of the AAPR self-description (AAPR-SB), no self report measure reached a statistically significant convergence with the AAPR categories of the attachment styles (secure, ambivalent, avoidant). With respect to attachment security, the highest correlations were found between the interview-based rating and the Relationship Specific Attachment Scales (version related to the attachment figure "mother", BBE, r = 0.46), as well as the Bielefeld Partnership Expectations Questionnaire (BFPE, r = 0.38). Combining these two measures, approximately 30 % of the variance of the AAPR-attachment security measure could be explained. Besides the specificity of the methods, the results indicate divergences of attachment measures related to time (e. g. childhood vs. present) or attachment figures (e. g. mother vs. partner) indicating the need to specify attachment related constructs in studies with adults.