Self-Compassion, Coping Flexibility, and Resilience Break the Chain Between Attachment Anxiety and Depression

• In Event: Access to Service and Integrated Care

Abstract

This study explored self-compassion, coping flexibility, and trait resilience as sequential mediators between attachment anxiety and depression. The sample was composed of 213 American college students. Using the PROCESS macro in SPSS to explore sequential mediation between attachment anxiety and depression, we found four sequential mediation paths that occurred simultaneously. These sequential mediations could mitigate 47.8% of attachment anxiety’s total influence on depression. The sequential mediations could defy the diathesis-stress effect. As stress increases, it exacerbated attachment anxiety and depression; nevertheless, it (stress) could not intervene the sequential mediation effects. Practical and theoretical implications are discussed.

Author

• Ming-Hui Li, St. John's University