ATTACHMENT AND COPING STRATEGIES AS PREDICTORS OF MENTAL OVERLOAD AMONG MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY SERVICES OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC
ATTACHMENT AND COPING STRATEGIES AS PREDICTORS OF MENTAL OVERLOAD AMONG MEMBERS OF THE SECURITY SERVICES OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Summary/Abstract: Aim: The aims of the present study are three-fold. Firstly, to investigate the use of different attachment and coping strategies among members of the security services of the Czech Republic, and explore the level of experienced mental overload. Secondly, to examine the relationship between the constructs employed in the study. In considering theoretical background and previous research (Janke & Erdmann, 2002; Johnstone & Feeney, 2015; Mikulincer & Shaver, 2012) we expect a negative relationship between positive coping strategies and experienced mental overload, but a positive association between negative coping strategies and experienced mental overload. Also, it is hypothesized that hyperactivation and deactivation will be positively related with mental overload. Thirdly, to explore the incremental validity of hyperactivation and deactivation strategies over and above demographics and coping strategies in predicting mental overload. The wider goal is to consider the potential utilization of attachment and coping strategies in selection procedures in members of the security services. Method: The research includes members of four security services of the Czech Republic and the sample contained 130 respondents. The mean age of the sample is M = 39.22 years; SD = 9.07 in range of 21 to 64. The sample consisted of N = 83 female (M = 40.74, SD = 10.85), and N = 47 male (M = 38.36, SD = 7.82). Subjects included information about their level of education and the position in which they were employed. Whole teams were included from 4 security services with representatives from both types of positions; back offices as well as a direct duty performance. Participants filled in measures for attachment strategies of hyperactivation and deactivation (EWR-I, Seitl, Seitlová & Střelec, 2017), positive and negative coping strategies (SVF-78, Janke & Erdmannová, 2003), and mental overload (Meister Questionnaire, Hladký & Žídková, 1999). Results: Both attachment and coping strategies were averagely used by the subjects of our study, while the mental overload was somewhat lower than the norm. In particular, the T-scores were 43.41 (hyperactivation), 48.88 (deactivation), 57.80 (positive coping), 43.62 (negative coping), and 40.14 (mental overload). The results from the correlational analysis showed that hyperactivation, deactivation, and negative coping strategies were significantly positively related with experiencing mental overload, which is in line with the expectations. Contrary to our hypothesis, positive coping wasn’t significantly related with mental overload. Additionally, a negative association between positive coping and deactivation, and a positive relation among hyperactivation and negative coping showed to be significant. Focusing on the categories of negative coping, it was found that the strategies of escape tendency (escape from stressful situations), perseveration (being unable to break off from one’s thoughts), and resignation (tendency to give up with feelings of helplessness or hopelessness) were significantly positively associated with mental overload. However, a partial correlation between these strategies and mental overload, controlling for hyperactivation and deactivation, was not significant. In the first step of the regression model the variables included: sex, age, education, and position; which explained 8% of the variance in experiencing mental overload. In the second step, negative coping was added, and significantly improved in prediction of mental overload, explaining 16 % of the variance. The final step included hyperactivation and deactivation and there was a significant increment of ΔR² = .24 over and above demographics and negative coping. In the final model the variables of sex (β = .18, t = 2.08, p < .05), education (β = .21, t = 2.57, p < .01), hyperactivation (β = 19, t = 1.96, p < .05), and deactivation (β = .25, t = 3.11, p < .01) were significant predictors of mental overload. Conclusion: Our study shows that the attachment strategies of hyperactivation and deactivation were superior predictors of mental overload. Individuals with insecure attachment (hyperactivating or deactivating) when coping with threats (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2012) are prone to experiencing mental overload. The results suggest that the construct of attachment strategies is more important in predicting workplace overload, compared to negative coping. These findings are analyzed in the discussion and possibilities for further research are given. The main limitation of the study is the specificity of the sample.

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