Different effects of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance on depressive symptoms: A meta-analysis

Zheng, Leying; Luo, Yadan; Xu, Chen

doi:10.1177/0265407520946482

Cited by 41 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 71 publications

(54 reference statements)

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“…Attachment trauma proliferates this way to other trauma types (Kira et al, 2019b). The robust empirical evidence on the adverse effects of unhealthy attachment styles (e.g., for meta-analysis see : Vasileva & Petermann, 2018), attachment trauma and depression (for meta-analyses see; Spruit et al, 2020;Zheng et al, 2020), and for attachment trauma and PTSD (for meta-analysis see: Woodhouse et al, 2015). There is also robust evidence on the positive effects of secure attachment on resilience, emotion regulation, and wellbeing (e.g., Barnum & Perrone-McGovern, 2017, for meta-analyses for its link to resilience, see: Darling Rasmussen et al, 2019; and for its link to self-regulation see: Pallini et al, 2018).…”

Section: Attachment Stressors/traumasmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Development-Based Taxonomy of Stressors and Traumas: An Initial Empirical Validation

Kira¹

2021

PSYCH

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The development-based trauma framework (DBTF) proposed a comprehensive taxonomy of stressors and traumas based on the salience of existence and identity development. The goal of this research is to check the validity of some of the DBTF parameters, specifically the trauma types severity (Types I, II, and III), and the six major trauma types (attachment, personal identity, collective identity, role identity, survival and secondary traumas) differential impact and proliferation. We used a sample from 11 Arab countries (N = 2732), age ranged from 18 -91, mean = 26.9, and SD = 10.01, with 69.3% females. We used measures for cumulative stressors and traumas, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and executive functions. We conducted correlation and path analysis. Correlation explored the differential sizes of association between types I, II, III traumas and mental health and executive function deficits. Path analysis explored the proliferation of and paths between the six major types of trauma and their impact on mental health and cognitive functions. Results indicated that the size of associations of type III trauma and mental health and executive function variable were significantly larger than type II trauma and the same for the difference in the associations between type II and type I, which validate the differential intensity impact of trauma types. Results indicated that attachment traumas have the highest impact on other traumas, followed by early childhood adversities (personal identity trauma) and collective identity traumas, with differential impact on mental health and executive functions. The conceptual, trauma measurement and clinical implications of results were discussed.

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Section: Attachment Stressors/traumasmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Development-Based Taxonomy of Stressors and Traumas: An Initial Empirical Validation

Kira¹

2021

PSYCH

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“…A wide body of research supports a direct positive relationship between insecure adult attachment styles and depression [ 11 – 15 ]. Attachment anxiety has been consistently linked with depression in a variety of studies, including correlational, longitudinal and prospective studies [ 2 , 16 , 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the reported results of the meta-analysis indicate that when insecure-dismissing (or avoidant) attachment was coded as a dimensional rather than categorical variable, individuals with insecure-dismissing attachment had elevated levels of depressive symptoms relative to individuals with a secure attachment style. Taking a dimensional approach, Zheng and colleagues [ 15 ]’ meta-analytic study yielded evidence of a strong association between attachment anxiety and depression and a weak association between attachment avoidance and depression.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In summary, research suggests that attachment avoidance impacts upon depressive symptoms [ 11 , 15 ]. From a theoretical perspective, this association would be expected, given that attachment avoidance reflects a set of negative beliefs and expectations about the availability and willingness of others to provide help or care when this is needed [ 18 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Based on the research reviewed, there is some support for a positive association between attachment avoidance and depression [ 15 ] with some null findings opening the possibility that mediating variables may be involved (see [ 11 ] for review). Deactivating emotion regulation strategies and self-compassion have both been identified as possible mediators of this relationship [ 17 , 53 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Attachment style, thought suppression, self-compassion and depression: Testing a serial mediation model

et al. 2021

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Attachment anxiety has been consistently linked with increased vulnerability to depression, and hyperactivating emotion regulation strategies (e.g., rumination) have been shown to mediate this relationship. Investigations of mediators of the attachment avoidance to depression relationship have yielded inconsistent findings, and the nature of this relationship remains to be clarified. There is evidence to suggest that the constructs of thought suppression and self-compassion are associated with attachment avoidance and also with depressive symptomology. In order to further clarify the nature of this relationship, the present study tested a serial mediation model, whereby it was hypothesised that thought suppression and self-compassion were serial mediators of the relationship between attachment avoidance and depression. One hundred and forty-eight participants completed an online composite questionnaire consisting of the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised Questionnaire, the White Bear Suppression Inventory, the Self-Compassion Scale, and the Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale-21. Initial results supported the hypothesised serial mediation model (Model A); that is, higher attachment avoidance predicted higher thought suppression, higher thought suppression predicted lower levels of self-compassion and lower levels of self-compassion predicted higher depression. However, this model was no longer significant following the inclusion of attachment anxiety as a covariate within the post-hoc analysis. A second, post-hoc serial mediation model was tested (Model B), with the only difference being that attachment anxiety replaced attachment avoidance as the independent variable. This model was significant, with and without the inclusion of attachment avoidance as a covariate. The study provides evidence for the central role of thought suppression and self-compassion as mechanisms underlying the relationship between insecure attachment and depression, and indicates that these factors operate in opposing directions. The findings are discussed in terms of explicating some of the processes through which insecure attachment confers vulnerability to depression. The implications of the observed degree of shared variance between the two attachment dimensions suggests these constructs may be more appropriately considered overlapping, rather than orthogonal.

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How is the loss of a parent in youth related to attachment and adult separation anxiety among women?

Peleg,

Shalev,

Cohen

et al. 2023

Stress and Health

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This study aimed to examine attachment and adult separation anxiety (ASA) among women who lost a parent in their youth. We hypothesized that insecure attachment and increased ASA from a romantic partner would be found among women who have lost a parent in youth, compared to women whose parents were both alive. Sixty women who lost one or both parents in their youth and 60 who had living parents participated in the study (mean age: 32.3, range: 18–62 years). Participants filled out the ASA and Short Attachment questionnaires. Women who lost a parent reported higher levels of anxious attachment and ASA from partner; the two groups did not differ, however, in terms of avoidant attachment. Additionally, similar effects on ASA and attachment were found among adult women who lost a father or a mother in their youth. In conclusion, the loss of a parent early in life may be associated with an insecure attachment style and increased ASA.

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Different effects of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance on depressive symptoms: A meta-analysis

Cited by 41 publications

References 71 publications

The Development-Based Taxonomy of Stressors and Traumas: An Initial Empirical Validation

The Development-Based Taxonomy of Stressors and Traumas: An Initial Empirical Validation

Attachment style, thought suppression, self-compassion and depression: Testing a serial mediation model

How is the loss of a parent in youth related to attachment and adult separation anxiety among women?

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