Attachment Styles and Depression Symptoms: The Mediating Role of Rumination

Abstract

ObjectivesThe aim of this study is to investigate the mediating role of rumination in relation to the attachment styles and depression symptoms. Methods This is an expost facto study with causal design. Around 175 students of Iranian University answered to Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Ruminative Responses Scale (RRS), and the Adult Attachment Questionnaire (AAQ), which were analyzed using variance analysis, regression, and mediation analysis. Results The study results showed that attachment orientation is related to rumination (P<0.001) and depression (P<0.0005). Specifically, avoidance index of attachment system is strongly associated with brooding (P<0.002). Our results also supported the mediating role of brooding in between avoidance index and depression symptoms (P<0.0005). Conclusion Brooding mediate in between avoidance index and depression symptoms. The study findings also emphasize the role of caregiver-child relationship in the formation of rumination and depression, and recommend implementing preventive programs in order to restrain the development of such dysfunctional construct.