Overview
The Experiences in Close Relationships – Revised (ECR-R) is a 36-item self-report questionnaire developed by Fraley, Waller, and Brennan (2000) to measure adult romantic attachment. It captures how you generally experience emotionally intimate relationships.
What it measures
The ECR-R yields two dimensions, each scored as the mean of 18 items on a 1–7 scale:
- Attachment anxiety — fear of rejection and abandonment, and a strong need for reassurance.
- Attachment avoidance — discomfort with closeness and dependence, and a preference for emotional distance.
Together the two dimensions describe broad attachment patterns (for example, secure, preoccupied, dismissing, or fearful). Your result below reports your score on each of the two dimensions separately rather than assigning a single style label. Higher scores indicate greater anxiety or avoidance. Several items are reverse-scored.
Reference bands (guidance, not official clinical cut-offs): low below 3.0, moderate 3.0–4.99, high 5.0 and above. This is an educational screening measure, not a diagnostic test.
Reference
Fraley, R. C., Waller, N. G., & Brennan, K. A. (2000). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(2), 350–365.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ECR-R?
The Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised (ECR-R) is a 36-item self-report questionnaire developed by Fraley, Waller, and Brennan that measures two dimensions of adult romantic attachment: attachment-related anxiety and attachment-related avoidance.
Who should take the ECR-R?
Adults aged 18 and older who want to understand their attachment style in close or romantic relationships. It is widely used in research and as a self-reflection screening tool.
How are ECR-R scores interpreted?
Each subscale is scored as the mean of 18 items on a 1–7 scale. Your LuriaLab report shows attachment anxiety and avoidance separately with low (<3.0), moderate (3.0–4.99), and high (≥5.0) bands on each dimension.
Does the ECR-R diagnose an attachment disorder?
No. The ECR-R describes attachment-related tendencies in close relationships; it is a screening result, not a diagnosis. Attachment patterns can shift over time, and talking with a mental-health professional may help if results concern you.
What is the difference between ECR-R and ECR-S?
Both measure attachment anxiety and avoidance. The ECR-R has 36 items; the ECR-S is a validated 12-item short form of the original ECR. Choose ECR-S for a quicker screen, or ECR-R for a fuller assessment.
What is the ECR-R attachment style test?
The ECR-R (Experiences in Close Relationships – Revised) is a validated 36-item measure of adult romantic attachment. It scores two dimensions as subscale means (1–7): attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. On LuriaLab, common bands are low (<3.0), moderate (3.0–4.99), and high (≥5.0) on each dimension — a screening snapshot, not a diagnosis.
Related free screenings and topics
- ECR-S — 12-item short attachment screen (same two dimensions)
- Love Attitudes Scale — six love styles (Eros, Ludus, Storge, Pragma, Mania, Agape)
- RSES — self-esteem often overlaps with relationship insecurity
- GAD-7 — anxiety screening
- What is attachment style?
- Anxious attachment · Avoidant attachment
ECR-R guide — how the two dimensions work and how to read your report.
Related glossary terms
Attachment Style, Anxious Attachment, Avoidant Attachment, Secure Attachment
Category
Audience
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(2), 350–365.