Insecure attachment as a risk factor for psychopathology: the role of stressful events

Abstract

Attachment theory predicts that attachment styles 'learned' in previous relational experiences affect the way people cope with stressful events and, consequently, their mental health. The present study tested two mediational models of the relationships between stressful events, attachment style and psychopathology in a sample of 51 student couples. No evidence was found for a mediating role of attachment style in the relationship between stressful events and psychopathology, i.e. attachment style did not influence the effects of stressful events on mental health. Rather, the results indicated that stressful events mediated the association between fearful attachment and psychopathology. It seems as though fearfully attached individuals are more prone to perceive and interpret events as stressful which in turn seems to increase their vulnerability to experience psychological symptoms. Findings are discussed in the context of theory and research on adult attachment.

The Role of Attachment Representation in the Relationship Between Depressive Symptomatology and Social Withdrawal in Middle Childhood

“…Attachment theorists claim that early family experiences that are dysfunctional, through insensitive or non-responsive parenting lead to the development of insecure attachment (e.g., Booth, Rose-Krasnor, McKinnon & Rubin, 1994;Bowlby, 1977;Pieglage, Gerlsma, & Schaap, 2000). Related to this, it is argued that insecurely attached children are unable to draw on appropriate cognitive/affective coping strategies (Carlson & Sroufe, 1995;Svanberg, 1998).…”

The Mediator Role of Internalized Homophobia and Self-Compassion on the Link between Attachment Styles and Depression in Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Individuals

“…When the related literature is investigated, is it seen that the studies of Pielage, Gerlsma and Schaap (2000) are of supportive nature of the results of this study. Pielage, Gerlsma and Schaap (2000) have investigated whether insecure attachment is a mediator variable between stress and psychopathology (carrier) or whether it is a causal variable leading to psychopathology by increasing stress (independent).…”

“…Pielage, Gerlsma and Schaap (2000) have investigated whether insecure attachment is a mediator variable between stress and psychopathology (carrier) or whether it is a causal variable leading to psychopathology by increasing stress (independent). These researchers have found that insecure attachment pattern is more of a causal factor than a mediator variable; and that in fact stressful incidents mediate on the link between attachment styles and psychopathology.…”

Adult Attachment and Transgender Identity in the Italian Context: Clinical Implications and Suggestions for Further Research

“…Furthermore, because secure attachment is a protective factor (e.g., Prior & Glaser, 2006; Schore, 2001; Sroufe 2005), it was hypothesized that those who present this kind of attachment report also higher scores of positive transgender identity, whereas those who present insecure attachment styles are higher in internalized transphobia. Consequently, as the insecure attachment could represent a factor of vulnerability (Abdul Kadir & Bifulco, 2013; Pielage et al, 2000), a final hypothesis was that transgender people with insecure attachment styles are more likely to present higher levels of internalized transphobia.…”