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1973 , 1979) has consistently produced robust findings demonstrating that emotional availability towards others is stronglyassociated with early attachment experiences (Van IJzendoorn & Bakermans-Kranenburg , theemotional availability and interplay of attachment patterns between adult ‘children’ and their parents is of particularinterest , 1997). Consequently , however , Later life filial relationships , gerontological research has tended to overlook the differential effects of secure andinsecure attachment organisation on relationships during later life (Bradley & Cafferty , Adult attachment theory , 2001 , Q-Methodology , Consedine & Magai , Internal representations of close relationships1. IntroductionIn addition to needing practical help and financial security during later life , Journal of Aging Studies 20 (2006) 177–191www.elsevier.com/locate/jagingE-mail address: d.shemmings@mdx.ac.uk. , individuals also tend to value theemotional support of close family and friends (Cicirelli , 1983 , Seeman & Crimmins , 2001). This appears to beespecially true for the ‘oldest-old’ cohort (Krause , 2004). Research based on attachment theory (Bowlby , because the latter usually performed the key roles in the attachment development of the former.For the most part , 1969
