Shakir Iqbal, Muhammad Tahir Khalily, Irshad Ahmad.
Association of working alliance with attachment styles in clinical supervisory relationship.
Rawal Med J Jan ;45(3):577-81.

Objective: This study aimed to explore the role of attachment anxiety and avoidance of supervisory dyad and their perception about attachment styles of others on supervisory working alliance. Methodology: Data was collected from a total of 175 participants belonging to different universities of Pakistan which includes 134 supervisees and 41 supervisors of clinical psychology program. Experiences in Close Relationships: Relationship Structures Questionnaire (ECR-RS) and Supervisory Working Alliance Inventory (SWAI) were used to measure attachment and working alliance respectively. Results: There was a significant association of working alliance with attachment anxiety and avoidance (p<0.01). Perceived attachment anxiety and avoidance were related to working alliance for supervisee (p<0.01) and not for supervisors. Attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, perceived attachment anxiety and perceived attachment avoidance scores were significantly higher for supervisors than supervisee (p<0.001). Rapport, client focus and SWAI scores were significantly higher for supervisors as compared to supervisee (p<0.001). Conclusion: These results emphasize that reflection and understanding about the attachment styles should be incorporated in a supervisory training.

PakMediNet -Pakistan's largest Database of Pakistani Medical Journals - http://www.pakmedinet.com