Abstract
Objective: The mechanisms underlying the association between adult attachment and health are not well understood. In the current study, we investigated the relationship between attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance; inflammation, and length of hospital stay in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery patients.
Method: 167 CABG patients completed an attachment questionnaire prior to surgery, and blood samples were taken before and after surgery to assess inflammatory activity.
Results: We found that attachment anxiety predicted higher plasma interleukin 6 (IL-6) concentration, and this association was mediated by self-reported sleep quality. Anxious attachment also predicted longer hospital stays following CABG surgery, even after controlling for demographic and clinical factors.
Conclusion: These data suggest that increased levels of IL-6 may be a process linking adult attachment anxiety with health outcomes. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.