IS BELONGING NECESSARY? SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND RESEARCH AGENDA ON WORKPLACE ATTACHMENT
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17564/2316-3801.2026v13n1p83-101Abstract
The human being has an innate need to form bonds with significant figures, and in adulthood, the workplace can take on the role of an attachment object. In this sense, this study aimed to systematize recent empirical research on workplace attachment. To this end, searches were conducted for articles in the Scopus, Web of Science (WoS), and PsycINFO databases, considering only those published from 2020 to 2025 that address workplace attachment as a central theme. The analysis of the selected studies was guided by the 4W’s model of Rosado-Serrano, Paul, and Dikova (2018), allowing a structured approach to what, why, where, and how the phenomenon is treated in the literature. Secure, anxious, and avoidant attachment styles were identified in the workplace. Secure workplace attachment is linked to higher levels of satisfaction, perceived comfort, engagement, citizenship behaviors, and a lower tendency toward stress and burnout. The results highlight the importance of practices that foster the development of secure workplace attachment to promote well-being at work and organizational performance. As a contribution, this study offers directions for future research to deepen the understanding of the topic. The research reinforces the need to investigate the antecedents and effects of attachment styles in different contexts, as well as the decentralization of perspective in the approach.







