Attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing engagement in young adults: a cross-sectional, cross-country study in India and Spain
Abstract Background Breadcrumbing, defined as the act of sending out flirtatious, but non-committal text messages to lure a sexual/romantic partner without expending much effort, has gained attention in popular culture and the media due to its relevance to contemporary dating dynamics. However, ther...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2023-10-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01404-y |
| _version_ | 1797451010533228544 |
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| author | Vivek Khattar Nuria Huete Raúl Navarro |
| author_facet | Vivek Khattar Nuria Huete Raúl Navarro |
| author_sort | Vivek Khattar |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Breadcrumbing, defined as the act of sending out flirtatious, but non-committal text messages to lure a sexual/romantic partner without expending much effort, has gained attention in popular culture and the media due to its relevance to contemporary dating dynamics. However, there is lack of evidence of the association between attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing This study aims to uncover the potential relationship between breadcrumbing engagement and attachment insecurity among Indian and Spanish young adults. Methods Data were collected through an anonymous online survey answered by 334 adults in India and by 348 adults in Spain aged between 18 and 40 years old. A linear regression model in both countries was run to examine breadcrumbing engagement and its relationship with the set of sociodemographic variables included in the study (participants’ age and sex, sexual orientation, relationship status and educational level) and the two dimensions of attachment insecurity (anxious and avoidant). Results The results showed that insecure attachment, both anxious and avoidant, were associated with engaging in breadcrumbing in both the countries. However, there was a stronger association between anxious attachment and breadcrumbing in India compared to Spain, where the association was stronger between avoidant attachment and breadcrumbing. Conclusions Findings from this study offer insight into an under-studied practice in the context of interpersonal relationships (i.e., breadcrumbing behaviour) and show the importance of attachment theoretical framework to hypothesize and analyse expectations regarding strategies to negotiate intimate relationships and the breadcrumbing experience particularly. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:48:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d4ff1e1b557b407d9dba57253255789a |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2050-7283 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T14:48:45Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychology |
| spelling | doaj.art-d4ff1e1b557b407d9dba57253255789a2023-11-26T14:36:56ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832023-10-0111111110.1186/s40359-023-01404-yAttachment insecurity and breadcrumbing engagement in young adults: a cross-sectional, cross-country study in India and SpainVivek Khattar0Nuria Huete1Raúl Navarro2Faculty of Education & Psychology, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of BarodaFaculty of Business Economic, University of Castilla-La ManchaFaculty of Education and Humanities, University of Castilla-La ManchaAbstract Background Breadcrumbing, defined as the act of sending out flirtatious, but non-committal text messages to lure a sexual/romantic partner without expending much effort, has gained attention in popular culture and the media due to its relevance to contemporary dating dynamics. However, there is lack of evidence of the association between attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing This study aims to uncover the potential relationship between breadcrumbing engagement and attachment insecurity among Indian and Spanish young adults. Methods Data were collected through an anonymous online survey answered by 334 adults in India and by 348 adults in Spain aged between 18 and 40 years old. A linear regression model in both countries was run to examine breadcrumbing engagement and its relationship with the set of sociodemographic variables included in the study (participants’ age and sex, sexual orientation, relationship status and educational level) and the two dimensions of attachment insecurity (anxious and avoidant). Results The results showed that insecure attachment, both anxious and avoidant, were associated with engaging in breadcrumbing in both the countries. However, there was a stronger association between anxious attachment and breadcrumbing in India compared to Spain, where the association was stronger between avoidant attachment and breadcrumbing. Conclusions Findings from this study offer insight into an under-studied practice in the context of interpersonal relationships (i.e., breadcrumbing behaviour) and show the importance of attachment theoretical framework to hypothesize and analyse expectations regarding strategies to negotiate intimate relationships and the breadcrumbing experience particularly.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01404-yBreadcrumbingAttachment insecurityAnxious attachmentAvoidant attachmentCross-country research; Young adults |
| spellingShingle | Vivek Khattar Nuria Huete Raúl Navarro Attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing engagement in young adults: a cross-sectional, cross-country study in India and Spain BMC Psychology Breadcrumbing Attachment insecurity Anxious attachment Avoidant attachment Cross-country research; Young adults |
| title | Attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing engagement in young adults: a cross-sectional, cross-country study in India and Spain |
| title_full | Attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing engagement in young adults: a cross-sectional, cross-country study in India and Spain |
| title_fullStr | Attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing engagement in young adults: a cross-sectional, cross-country study in India and Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing engagement in young adults: a cross-sectional, cross-country study in India and Spain |
| title_short | Attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing engagement in young adults: a cross-sectional, cross-country study in India and Spain |
| title_sort | attachment insecurity and breadcrumbing engagement in young adults a cross sectional cross country study in india and spain |
| topic | Breadcrumbing Attachment insecurity Anxious attachment Avoidant attachment Cross-country research; Young adults |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-023-01404-y |
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