The Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) is a 36-item self-report questionnaire that measures adult attachment along two dimensions, anxiety and avoidance. Developed by Fraley, Waller, and Brennan in 2000, it asks people how they generally experience close relationships, giving clinicians a dimensional picture of attachment security rather than a single categorical label.
Why healthcare providers use the ECR-R
- Dimensional attachment profile. It scores anxiety and avoidance on continuous scales, so providers see the degree of each pattern rather than forcing a person into one attachment category.
- Strong psychometrics. The revised item set was selected using item response theory and shows high internal consistency, which supports confident interpretation of both subscales.
- Relationship-focused insight. Attachment patterns inform how patients form and manage close bonds, which guides clinical decision-making in individual, couples, and trauma-informed work.
- Sensitive to change. Because the subscales are continuous, providers can re-administer the ECR-R to observe shifts in attachment anxiety or avoidance across a course of therapy.
Which settings use the ECR-R?
- Outpatient mental health clinics. Therapists use it to understand how attachment patterns shape a patient's presenting concerns and therapeutic relationship.
- Couples and family therapy. Clinicians reference each partner's anxiety and avoidance scores to frame relational dynamics and shared goals.
- University counseling centers. Counselors administer it to young adults exploring relationship difficulties and emerging attachment patterns.
- Research programs. The ECR-R is one of the most widely cited adult attachment measures in relationship and personality research.
What does the ECR-R measure?
The ECR-R assesses adult romantic attachment across two independent dimensions. Each dimension is measured by 18 items rated on a 7-point agreement scale, and a person can score high or low on either or both. Together the two scores locate a person within the broader model of attachment security and insecurity.
- Attachment anxiety. The degree of worry about a partner's availability, responsiveness, and approval, and fear of abandonment or rejection.
- Attachment avoidance. The degree of discomfort with closeness and dependence, and a preference for emotional distance and self-reliance in relationships.
Scoring the ECR-R
- Number of items. 36 items, split into an 18-item anxiety subscale and an 18-item avoidance subscale.
- Per-item scale. Each item is rated 1 to 7, where 1 is strongly disagree and 7 is strongly agree, with several items reverse-keyed.
- Score range. Each subscale is the mean of its 18 items after reverse-coding, producing an anxiety score and an avoidance score that each range from 1 to 7.
- Score direction. Higher subscale scores indicate greater attachment anxiety or avoidance; lower scores on both dimensions reflect greater attachment security.
The ECR-R is a continuous, dimensional measure and does not have official clinical severity bands or diagnostic cutoffs. Subscales are interpreted separately rather than summed into a single total, and scores are best understood relative to the scale midpoint and to a person's own scores over time. Results support case formulation and should be integrated with a full clinical assessment, not used as a standalone diagnostic tool.
Best practices for administration
- Set the relational frame. Clarify whether items refer to a current partner, romantic relationships generally, or another close relationship, since wording can be adapted.
- Score subscales separately. Report anxiety and avoidance as distinct scores and avoid collapsing them into a single index.
- Apply reverse-keying correctly. Confirm the reverse-scored items are handled before averaging, because errors here distort both subscales.
- Allow adequate time. Most adults complete the 36 items in roughly 10 to 15 minutes; a quiet, private setting improves candor.
- Interpret in context. Discuss scores collaboratively and consider further assessment where responses suggest significant distress in relationships.
How Zentake helps with the ECR-R
- Automatic scoring. Zentake calculates the anxiety and avoidance subscales on submit, including reverse-keying, so there is no hand-tallying.
- Longitudinal tracking. Re-send the ECR-R on a schedule and view how attachment anxiety and avoidance change over time.
- Before the visit. Patients at mental health practices complete the questionnaire from home on any device, so scores are ready before the visit.
- HIPAA compliant. Responses are encrypted, with a signed BAA on every plan.
References
Fraley, R. C., Waller, N. G., & Brennan, K. A. (2000). An item response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 350-365. Item content and scoring instructions are available through R. C. Fraley's measures page, which provides the ECR-R freely for research and clinical use.
The ECR-R is a dimensional research instrument with no published clinical cutoffs; subscale scores are interpreted continuously rather than against fixed severity bands.
Last updated: August 2026