The psychometric properties of the workplace attachment style questionnaire

Place attachment is a benchmark of environmental psychology. In general it can be understood as an emotional link between an individual and a specific place. Several studies have shown that place attachment can influence various psycho-social variables that underlie the individual's quality of life. However, few studies have linked place attachment patterns and Bowlby's attachment theory. The present paper describes the psychometric characteristics of the Workplace Attachment Styles Questionnaire. The first study, with 342 participants, used exploratory factor analysis to check its construct validity. The aim of the second study, with 226 participants, was to carry out a confirmatory factor analysis. The analyses identified a 15-item structure with three factors: secure, dismissive and preoccupied workplace attachment styles. This paper therefore provides the scientific community with a means of investigating different workplace attachment styles. From a theoretical point of view, it suggests ways of developing new measuring instruments adapted to specific places.