Adult Attachment Security and Symptoms of Depression: The Mediating Roles of Dysfunctional Attitudes and Low Self-Esteem

Three studies investigated the relation between adult attachment security and symptoms of depression. Study 1 examined the overall magnitude of the association between adult attachment and depression, and Studies 2 and 3 tested whether this relation was mediated by dysfunctional attitudes and low se...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of personality and social psychology 1996-02, Vol.70 (2), p.310-320
Main Authors: Roberts, John E, Gotlib, Ian H, Kassel, Jon D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Adult and adolescent clinical studies
Adult Attitudes
Adults
Attachment Behavior
Attachment style
Attitude
Biological and medical sciences
Depression
Depression - diagnosis
Depression - psychology
Factors
Female
Human
Human Sex Differences
Humans
Internal-External Control
Major Depression
Male
Medical sciences
Mental depression
Mood disorders
Object Attachment
Personality
Personality Inventory
Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry
Psychopathology. Psychiatry
Relationship
Self Concept
Self image
Self-Esteem
Selfesteem
Social psychology
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Summary:Three studies investigated the relation between adult attachment security and symptoms of depression. Study 1 examined the overall magnitude of the association between adult attachment and depression, and Studies 2 and 3 tested whether this relation was mediated by dysfunctional attitudes and low self-esteem. Results from the three studies were consistent with a mediation model. This model suggests that insecure adult attachment styles are associated with dysfunctional attitudes, which in turn predispose to lower levels of self-esteem. Such depletions in self-esteem are directly associated with increases in depressive symptoms over time. Insecure attachment appears to lead to depressive symptoms in adulthood through its impact on self-worth contingencies and self-esteem.
ISSN:0022-3514
1939-1315
DOI:10.1037/0022-3514.70.2.310