Abstract
This study aimed to investigate for the first time the relationship between attachment, information seeking and epistemic trust in adults. The study takes a relational approach by investigating information seeking in the context of attachment relationships and epistemic trust. A total of 373 university students participated in the study. The project is part of a larger international project led by Francisco Pons. Data used in this study was collected in France. Participants were recruited through university lectures and completed a questionnaire. A categorical measure of attachment was used for both attachment in close friendships and attachment in romantic relationships. Information seeking and epistemic trust was measured with two novel scales. Data was analyzed using mainly analysis of variance and Chi-square tests of association. A clear relationship between attachment in close friendships and information seeking was found. Insecure attachment was related to a preference for seeking information through first-hand experience rather than third-person testimony when compared with secure attachment. Attachment was also related to epistemic trust, but only for those scoring particularly high or particularly low on the epistemic trust scale. For this subsample, insecure attachment was related to lower levels of epistemic trust. No significant relationships were found between attachment in romantic relationships and information seeking and epistemic trust.