Long-term effect of secure attachment priming on mental health in a stressful period of working adults

Abstract Secure attachment priming (SAP) is an effective method for improving mental health. The randomized control trial study examined the effects of workplace SAP on mental health (well-being/depression, anxiety, and perceived stress) in working adults. Indicators of mental health were measured using the World Health Organization’s well-being index, the Generalized anxiety disorder scale, and the Perceived stress scale. Sample 1 was with N = 49 working students, and Sample 2 was with N = 59 working adults. The experimental group received SAP once a week for eight weeks, and the control group received a neutral prime. Key findings from Study 1 showed significant improvements in well-being and reductions in anxiety and perceived stress in the experimental group compared with the control group. Study 2 found no significant differences in anxiety and well-being, but observed a significant reduction in perceived stress after three months. These mixed results suggest the potential effectiveness of SAP in specific contexts, particularly for stress reduction. The findings highlight SAP as a promising, cost-effective, and easy-to-implement workplace mental health intervention that can reduce stress. There is a need for further research into the optimal conditions and mechanisms of SAP to maximize its impact in organizational settings.