According to attachment theory, attachment relationships have a lasting impact on the functioning of the individual. If this impact has been much studied in children, few studies have been conducted in the elderly.

Explore the representations of attachment in a population of elderly subjects.

The sample consists of 90 consultants over the age of 65. Each participant filled out demographic questionnaire, Relationship Scale Questionnaire (RSQ): questionnaire of 13 items, each item rated from 1 to 5, a lower score attests a more secure attachment and Adult Attachment Questionnaire: a categorical scale of 3 statements. Statement 1 corresponds to secure attachment style, 2 to avoidant attachment style and 3 to anxious-ambivalent attachment style.

The age of participants ranged from 65 to 95 years with an average of 68.14. The sex ratio M:F was 0.8. The RSQ Score ranged from 16 to 56 with an average of 37.27. Of the participants, 72.2% have secure attachment style, 24.4% have an avoidant attachment style and 3.3% have an anxious-ambivalent attachment style. The study of correlations showed strong correlation between the two scales (P = 0.00) and the RSQ score was significantly associated with poor satisfaction of married life (P = 0.025), presence of psychological trauma in childhood (P = 0.016) and a separation experience (P = 0.029).

Our study highlights the importance of early childhood experiences that may impact late adult life. These finding are in accordance with attachment theory.

The authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.