Exploring Psychosocial Factors as Proxies for Attachment: Associations with Functional Health Outcomes in Older Adults

<p>Globally, the population of older adults is rapidly growing as the “Boomer” generation's lifeline becomes the longest in history, and global birth rates fall to an all-time low. In the past decade, urban areas across the United States have experienced a significant increase in the median age, reflecting a steady demographic shift toward an aging population. Presently, adults aged 65 and older outnumber children in nearly half of U.S. counties, marking a significant shift in the country’s age distribution. These trends highlight not only the rapid pace of population aging in the United States but also its alignment with broader global patterns. The implications of these shifts extend beyond simple demographic data. These changes represent gradual transformations in the social and economic fabric of our global society. As the world population ages, there is an increasing need to understand how aging influences the broader human experience. There is a considerable body of research exploring biological determinants of physical and functional health in the aging process; however, much of this research focuses on their impact on aging. Little attention has been devoted to identifying moderating variables that may influence functional health trajectories. The identification of such moderators is critical, as it may inform the development of predictive screening measures to better assess risk and guide interventions as individuals age. Adults are routinely screened for determinants of cognitive and physical health decline, but psychosocial factors are often overlooked in wellness screening. This study offers a detailed examination of associations between adult attachment and functional health in aging populations through the use of psychosocial factors as proxies for attachment style. The overarching aim was to evaluate the potential impact of psychosocial factors on aging to determine if these factors can serve as adequate proxies in lieu of attachment-based screening measures in predicting functional health decline in older adults.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Psy.D. Doctor of Clinical Psychology

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation - NLU Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Clinical Psychology

Year dc:date.available

2026

Author dc:creator

• Burgess, Sheila L

Contributors dc:contributor

• Lauren Smith, Ph.D.
• William Filstead, Ph.D.
• Wendy Baker, Psy.D.

• functional health
• older adults
• attachment
• attachment proxies
• Clinical Psychology

Repository record dc:identifier

https://digitalcommons.nl.edu/diss/965

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:digitalcommons.nl.edu:diss-2036