Attachment style in adulthood: Attachment style moderates the impact of social support on depressive symptoms

2020 ◽  
Vol 37 (10-11) ◽  
pp. 2871-2889
Author(s):  
Alissa Dark-Freudeman ◽  
Richard S. Pond ◽  
Ruthie E. Paschall ◽  
Leanne Greskovich

Introduction: Research on adult attachment has flourished over the last two decades. Despite this, only one theoretical model has been proposed to outline how the attachment system works in adulthood: the model of attachment system activation and functioning in adulthood proposed by Mikulincer and Shaver. The current study tested one prediction drawn from this model, namely that attachment style would moderate the association between social support and depressive symptoms. Method: The study included a nonclinical sample of 419 adults between the ages of 18 and 84 ( Mage = 39.64 years, SD = 19.61). Participants completed a survey containing measures of attachment, perceived social support, depressive symptoms, and demographic information. Results: A model in which attachment was predicted to moderate the relationship between perceived social support and depressive symptoms was tested. Although both avoidant and anxious attachment were significantly associated with depressive symptoms, the interaction between social support and insecure attachment style differed. Higher levels of social support were significantly associated with lower levels of depressive symptoms among anxiously attached individuals, but not among avoidant individuals. Discussion: The study supports the model proposed by Mikulincer and Shaver. Attachment style acts as a moderator of the association between perceived social support and depressive symptoms. The results further underscore differences between anxiously and avoidantly attached individuals.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sibo Zhao ◽  
Li Peng

Abstract Background Little research describes the mechanisms underlying depressive symptoms and personal relative deprivation in Chinese populations. Methods In this study, the respondents were (N = 938) residents of Beijing (17-59 years old) and robust multiple linear regressions were used to assess the main relationship between relative deprivation and depressive symptoms and social support as a potential moderator for that relationship. Results Individuals who reported higher personal relative deprivation had greater depressive symptoms than those who reported lower personal relative deprivation. Perceived social support buffered the relationship between depressive symptoms and personal relative deprivation. Conclusions The findings of this current study demonstrate the importance of relative deprivation for psychological strain and income in explaining how socioeconomic indices correlate with depressive symptoms. They also demonstrate the need to acknowledge the interaction of perceived social support and personal relative deprivation for influencing depression.


2008 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 104-107
Author(s):  
Jane Simms ◽  
Ciaran Mulholland

AbstractObjective: Depressive symptoms in schizophrenia have previously been associated with a perceived lack of social support. The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between perceived social support and depressive symptoms in schizophrenia; to assess the psychological wellbeing of their carers; and to examine the quality of the relationship between the patients and their carers.Method: Individuals with schizophrenia (n = 17) were assessed on the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), the Beck Hopelessness Scale (BHS), a measure of perceived social support, the Significant Others Scale (SOS) and the Quality of Relationship Inventory (QRI).Results: The mean score on the BDI for patients fell within the moderate-severe range and the mean range on the BHS fell within the moderate range. Family and friends were perceived as supportive resources by patients. There was no significant relationship between patient depressive symptoms or hopelessness and perceived social support. Carers of patients did not report high rates of depressive symptoms or hopelessness.Conclusions: These findings do not support the previous finding of an association between depressive symptoms and a perceived lack of social support in schizophrenia.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sibo Zhao ◽  
Li Peng

Abstract Background Little research describes the mechanisms underlying depressive symptoms and personal relative deprivation in Chinese populations. Methods In this study, the respondents were (N = 914) residents of Beijing (17–59 years old) and robust multiple linear regressions were used to assess the main relationship between relative deprivation and depressive symptoms and social support as a potential moderator for that relationship. Results Individuals who reported higher personal relative deprivation had greater depressive symptoms than those who reported lower personal relative deprivation. Perceived social support buffered the relationship between depressive symptoms and personal relative deprivation. Conclusions The findings of this current study demonstrate the importance of relative deprivation for psychological strain and income in explaining how socioeconomic indices correlate with depressive symptoms. They also demonstrate the need to acknowledge the interaction of perceived social support and personal relative deprivation for influencing depression.


2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Abdul Hanan Sami ◽  
Naveeda Naveeda

Present study aimed at investigating the association between personality traits, perceived social support and depressive symptoms in adolescents. Through convenient sampling, total 302 students (110 males and 192 females) were recruited from different universities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The age range of sample was 18-25 years. In present study, The Big Five Inventory- Short Version (BFI-S) (Gerlitz & Schupp, 2005), The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) (Zimet et al., 1988), and Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995) were used to access personality traits, perceived social support and depressive symptoms. Findings of the present study showed a significant positive relationship between neuroticism and depressive symptoms. However, extraversion, conscientiousness and perceived social support showed significant negative association with depressive symptoms. According to regression analysis, neuroticism is a positive while, perceived social support is significant negative predictor of depressive symptoms in young adolescents. Furthermore, findings of present study may assist in identifying the personality traits at risk of experiencing depression.


Author(s):  
Leonie Louisa Bauer ◽  
Britta Seiffer ◽  
Clara Deinhart ◽  
Beatrice Atrott ◽  
Gorden Sudeck ◽  
...  

AbstractIntroductionSocial distancing and quarantine measures applied during the COVID-19 pandemic might result in mental health problems. In this cross-sectional study we examined if perceived social support, exercise in minutes per week and change in exercise are protective factors regarding symptoms of depression, anxiety, and sleeping disorders.MethodIn April 2020, n = 4271 German adults completed an online survey including mental health questionnaires regarding depression (PHQ-D), anxiety (PHQ-D) and sleep (PSQI), as well as questionnaires related to protective factors such as exercise (BSA-F), physical activity-related health competence (PAHCO) and social support (F-SozU).ResultsComplete case analysis (n = 3700; mean age 33.13 ± 11.73 years, 78.6 % females) resulted in elevated prevalence of depressive disorder (31.4%), panic disorder (5.7%) and other anxiety disorders (7.4%). 58.3% reported symptoms of insomnia. Three separate models of multiple regression were conducted. Perceived social support was associated with lower values of anxiety (beta = −0.10; t(19) = −6.46; p >0.001), lower values of depressive symptoms (beta = −0.22; t(19) = −15.71; p < .001) and lower values of sleeping disorder symptoms (beta = −0.15; t(19) = −9.55; p < .001). Change towards less exercise compared to the time before Covid-19 was associated with and higher values of anxiety (beta = −0.05; t(19) = −2.85; p= .004), higher values of depressive symptoms (beta = −0.08; t(19) = - 5.69; p < .001), and higher values of sleeping disorder symptoms (beta = −0.07; t(19) = −4.54; p < .000). Post-hoc analysis (ANOVAs) revealed that a change towards less exercise was significantly associated with more depressive, anxiety and sleeping disorder symptoms whereas a positive change was not. No significant association was found for exercise in minutes per week for all outcomes.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic seems to have a negative impact on mental health in the German population. Social Support and a stable amount of exercise might attenuate these negative mental health consequences. Ongoing monitoring of the impact of the pandemic on mental health and possible protective factors is needed in order to create a basis for the development of appropriate prevention and intervention measures.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hamid Sharif Nia ◽  
Ozkan Gorgulu ◽  
Navaz Naghavi ◽  
María Auxiliadora Robles-Bello ◽  
David Sánchez-Teruel ◽  
...  

This study investigates the relationship between spiritual well-being, social support, and financial distress with depressive symptoms due to the COVID-19 pandemic. A path analysis was used to analyze data collected from 1,156 Iranian participants via an online survey. The results showed that spiritual well-being and social support were negatively related to depressive symptoms and financial distress. The impact of COVID-19 events showed negative associations with depressive symptoms. In addition, the link between spiritual well-being and financial distress with depressive symptoms was partially mediated by the impact of events.


2011 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 1017-1026 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sylvia Y. C. L. Kwok ◽  
Dannii Y. L. Yeung ◽  
Annie Chung

With reference to the stress-buffering model, this study aimed to examine the moderating role of perceived social support (including institutional peer support and family support) on the relationship between physical functional impairment, as a source of stress, and depressive symptoms among Chinese nursing home elderly in Hong Kong. The study used a cross-sectional survey method and convenience sampling. The subjects were recruited from two private nursing homes. A total of 187 elderly (54 males and 133 females) participated in the survey. Interviews were conducted by experienced research assistants. The Geriatric Depression Scale was used to assess depressive symptoms of each participant. Pearson correlational analyses showed that females reported more depressive symptoms than their male counterparts, and a positive relationship was found between education level and depressive symptoms. Perceived institutional peer support was negatively correlated, while physical functional impairment was positively correlated with depressive symptoms. However, there was no significant correlation between perceived family support and depressive symptoms. Hierarchical regression analyses revealed that physical functional impairment and perceived institutional peer support were significant predictors of elderly depressive symptoms, while perceived family support was not a significant predictor, after statistically controlling for the influence of gender and education level. Perceived institutional peer support, but not perceived family support, was found to moderate the negative impact of physical functional impairment on elderly depressive symptoms. The theoretical and practical implications of this study were then discussed.


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