Development of The Workplace Attachment Scale (WAtS): evidence of validity and reliability

Abstract

Attachment refers to affective-emotional bonds developed early between child and caretaker, and to its consequences throughout life. This study aimed at constructing a measure to assess adult attachment in workplace relationships. The sample of the study consisted of 450 adult participants (62.2% female; M= 24 years old, SD= 6.69%) included in the labor market. The results of an exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis indicated a three-dimensional structure that evaluated aspects of security, anxiety and avoidance of attachment in workplace situations, explaining 55% of the total variance. In addition, dimensions in both analyses showed omega coefficients high than .80. The measure presented expected correlations with close attachment, career success, satisfaction with life and self-efficacy dimensions. In conclusion, this study offers a validated measure: The Workplace Attachment Scale (WAtS), in Brazilian Portuguese that enables the investigation of attachment relationships in the workplace.