TY - JOUR
T1 - Adult attachment dimensions and specificity of emotional distress symptoms
T2 - Prospective investigations of cognitive risk and interpersonal stress generation as mediating mechanisms
AU - Hankin, Benjamin L.
AU - Kassel, Jon D.
AU - Abela, John R.Z.
PY - 2005/1
Y1 - 2005/1
N2 - Three prospective studies examined the relation between adult attachment dimensions and symptoms of emotional distress (anxiety and depression). Across all three studies, avoidant and anxious attachment prospectively predicted depressive symptoms, and anxious attachment was associated concurrently with anxiety symptoms. Study 2 tested a cognitive risk factors mediational model, and Study 3 tested an interpersonal stress generation mediational model. Both cognitive and interpersonal mediating processes were supported. The cognitive risk factors pathway, including elevated dysfunctional attitudes and low self-esteem, specifically mediated the relation between insecure attachment and prospective elevations in depression but not anxiety. For the interpersonal stress generation model, experiencing additional interpersonal, but not achievement, Stressors over time mediated the association between insecure attachment and prospective elevations in depressive and anxious symptoms. Results advance theory and empirical knowledge about why these interpersonal and cognitive mechanisms explain how insecurely attached people become depressed and anxious.
AB - Three prospective studies examined the relation between adult attachment dimensions and symptoms of emotional distress (anxiety and depression). Across all three studies, avoidant and anxious attachment prospectively predicted depressive symptoms, and anxious attachment was associated concurrently with anxiety symptoms. Study 2 tested a cognitive risk factors mediational model, and Study 3 tested an interpersonal stress generation mediational model. Both cognitive and interpersonal mediating processes were supported. The cognitive risk factors pathway, including elevated dysfunctional attitudes and low self-esteem, specifically mediated the relation between insecure attachment and prospective elevations in depression but not anxiety. For the interpersonal stress generation model, experiencing additional interpersonal, but not achievement, Stressors over time mediated the association between insecure attachment and prospective elevations in depressive and anxious symptoms. Results advance theory and empirical knowledge about why these interpersonal and cognitive mechanisms explain how insecurely attached people become depressed and anxious.
KW - Anxiety
KW - Attachment
KW - Depression
KW - Mediating mechanisms
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=11144347827&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1177/0146167204271324
DO - 10.1177/0146167204271324
M3 - Review article
C2 - 15574668
AN - SCOPUS:11144347827
SN - 0146-1672
VL - 31
SP - 136
EP - 151
JO - Personality and social psychology bulletin
JF - Personality and social psychology bulletin
IS - 1
ER -