Exploring associations between adult attachment patterns, time spent unemployed and use of substances to regulate affect among Australian job seekers

Experiencing unemployment increases individuals' risk of substance use, however, little is known about personal characteristics that may increase or decrease the vulnerability of unemployed adults to this use. Therefore, the present study draws on attachment theory to explore associations between attachment patterns and substance use amongst unemployed job seekers. Ninety-five unemployed adults accessing an employment support service in Australia completed the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ), and a questionnaire about frequency of emotional eating, smoking, and use of alcohol and illicit drugs. The majority of participants (71.6%) reported an insecure attachment style. Results revealed that attachment security was inversely associated with substance use, while both attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety were positively associated with substance use. Further, adult attachment patterns moderated associations between unemployment time and drug use. Together, findings offer new insights into the associations between attachment patterns, time spent unemployed and substance use. Implications for provision of services are discussed.