The purpose of this study was to develop a scale based on Internal working Model (IWM; Bolwby, 1969,1973, 1980), which has two components, "IWM of self" and "IWM of others". To examine the scale's validity,this study investigated the association between attachment relationship in young adulthood and retrospectively-assessed mother-child attachment in preschool period. Main results were as follows: Exploratory factor analysis found two components for the scale, corresponding to 'self' and 'others', and confirmatory factor analysis showed that a two-factor solution was better than a one-factor one. Mostly, mother, romantic partner, or peer was chosen as the person in close relationship, and three groups were formed depending on whom he/she chose. The three groups were different in terms of the 'others'score. The three factors of preschool attachment: secure, avoidant, and ambivalent, had effects on the IWM scores. In the groups of mother-child and romantic relationship, secure attachment had a positive effect on the two scores, and ambivalent attachment had a negative one on the 'self' score. In comparison, different patterns of effects emerged for the group who chose peer relationship.
Key words: attachment in young adults, internal working
model (IWM),
mother-child relationship in preschool period