Adult Attachment Style Prevalence Estimates
Adult attachment style distributions in a large nationally representative U.S. sample of respondents aged 15 to 54 have been reported as 59.0% secure, 25.2% avoidant, and 11.3% anxious. [1] A further 4.5% of respondents were unclassified due to equal attachment-style rating scores. [1]
Attachment Style Categories Used for Prevalence Estimates
The three-category model classifies adults into secure, avoidant, and anxious attachment styles using attachment-style self-report patterns. [1] The reported “unclassified” category represents respondents who did not fit uniquely into the three-category scoring scheme. [1]
Estimated Percentages in a Nationally Representative U.S. Adult Sample
- Secure attachment: 59.0% [1]
- Avoidant attachment: 25.2% [1]
- Anxious attachment: 11.3% [1]
- Unclassified (equal attachment-style rating scores): 4.5% [1]
Interpretation Notes for Adult-Level Distribution Estimates
The prevalence estimates depend on the attachment classification scheme and assessment format used in the underlying study. [1] Prevalence estimates may differ across age ranges, countries, and measurement instruments. [1]
Clinical/Relevance Considerations
Attachment style prevalence is often reported for adult romantic attachment using self-report categorizations rather than clinician-rated adult attachment interviews. [1]
Key Source for the Frequently Cited National Estimates
The most frequently cited national estimates above come from analysis of the National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) with adult attachment classification into secure, avoidant, and anxious categories. [1]