Attachment Dimensions and Depressive Symptoms: Mediating Effects of Social Support Seeking and Loneliness among First Year Undergraduate Students

摘要

The objectives of the current study were to a) assess the mediating role of loneliness in the relationship between insecure adult attachment (i.e., attachment-related anxiety and attachment-related avoidance) and depressive symptoms and b) assess the mediating role of indirect social support seeking (e.g., complaining about a problem without requesting help) and avoidance of social support seeking (e.g., following through with tasks independently) in the relationship between insecure adult attachment and loneliness and subsequent depressive symptoms. One hundred sixty-nine first-year undergraduate participants completed measures that assessed depressive symptoms, adult attachment, social support seeking, and loneliness. Structural Equation Modelling analyses showed that loneliness mediated the relationship between insecure adult attachment and depressive symptoms. Reluctance to seek support mediated the relationship between insecure adult attachment, loneliness, and subsequent depressive symptoms. These findings suggest that preventative and intervention programs for first-year students may use an attachment theory framework to guide treatment.