mediating role of interpersonal problems in the relationship between attachment pathologies and anxiety symotoms

Subject Areas : روان درمانگری

Mohammad Ali Besharat ¹ , Maryam Hedayati ² , Ezatollah Kordmirza Nikuzadeh ³

1 - PhD University of Tehran
2 - MA in Clinical Psychology
3 - PhD University of Payame Noor

Received: 2015-05-31 Accepted : 2015-05-31 Published : 2014-03-21

Keywords: Anxiety, Interpersonal Relationship, attachment,

Abstract :

identifying variables that affect the development of symptoms of anxiety is clinically important. Understanding how these variables work is crucial in the area of prevention and treatment of psychological disorders. The purpose of the present study was to examine the mediating role of interpersonal problems in the relation between insecure attachment styles and anxiety symptoms. Three hundred seventy nine participants (181 females, 198 males) were asked to complete the Adult Attachment Inventory (AAI; Besharat, 2011, 2013), the Inventory of Interpersonal Problem (IIP; Horowitz, Rosenberg, Baer, Ureno, & Villasenor, 1988), and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (DASS; Lovibond, & Lovibond, 1995). The results indicated that the hypothesized model had a good fit with the observed data. The correlations between insecure attachment styles, interpersonal problems, and anxiety symptoms were significantly positive. Path analysis indicated that the relation between interpersonal problems and anxiety symptoms mediated by insecure attachment styles. The findings suggested that the relation between insecure attachment styles and anxiety symptoms is not a simple linear one. Attachment styles affect anxiety symptoms partly through interpersonal problems. Considering these variables may be important in preventing anxiety disorders and promoting mental health in general population