An Exploration of Home Attachment Representations using an Adaptation of Adult Attachment Interview: Preliminary Data on the Home Attachment Interview

Abstract

Background: In analysing the literature on household as a physical structure strongly linked to cultural and affective aspects, as well as to universal central psychological needs, a universe of meanings was found. The household, conceptualised as home and safe shelter that contains and protects, but also as a favourite place where the most important relationships of each human being unfold, suggests to use attachment theory perspective as a potentially useful framework to conceptualize the construct of home attachment. However, this perspective needs to be further investigated in order to understand its complex nature. Therefore, this pilot study aims to investigate how individuals represent their own homes according to their feelings and emotions related to their household. Methods: A qualitative-quantitative survey has been carried out with 50 adults (50% females) divided into five different age groups (from late adolescence to old age). An adapted version of the Adult Attachment Interview, the Home Attachment Interview, was administered. Results: Analysis identified the relevant aspects that distinguish the “house” as a physical structure, and the “home”, that symbolically encloses emotional and affective experiences suggesting a perception of the “house” as “home”, being a special place characterised by a strong attachment relationship connoted symbolically and affectively. Conclusions: Attachment theoretical and methodological tools used in the study appear especially useful to investigate and understand the construct of home attachment.

Keywords

• house
• home
• interview
• qualitative study
• place.