Final answer:
Older adults with an early insecure-avoidant attachment style may struggle with forming intimate relationships and experiencing emotional isolation. This attachment style often originates from unresponsive caregiving and can lead to difficulties trusting others and maintaining emotional distance in adulthood. Challenges related to self-concept could also impede their ability to seek help when necessary.
Step-by-step explanation:
Older adults who exhibited insecure-avoidant attachment early in life may be more likely to experience various difficulties when forming and maintaining intimate relationships. Attachment theory suggests that early interactions with caregivers shape our future relationships. An avoidant attachment style often stems from caregivers who were insensitive or unresponsive to the child's needs. As adults, individuals with an avoidant attachment style may struggle with intimacy and are more likely to engage in behaviors that maintain emotional distance in relationships. This could manifest in several ways, including difficulty trusting others, reluctance to become close to others, and a tendency to avoid emotional connection.
Furthermore, Erikson's theory of psychosocial development indicates the importance of developing a positive self-concept in adolescence, which is crucial for forming healthy relationships in adulthood. Older adults with insecure-avoidant attachments might also face problems concerning their self-concept, leading to feelings of loneliness and emotional isolation. These challenges could potentially impair an older adult's ability to seek out and accept help when needed. For example, during the COVID-19 pandemic, some seniors struggled to reach out for assistance, affecting their ability to get vaccines despite being a high-risk group.