The role of partner characteristics in attachment insecurity and depressive symptoms

Datos Bibliográficos

ID18978425
AutoresValerie E Whiffen (University of Ottawa, autor de correspondencia)
Año2005
Volumen12
Número3
Páginas407-423
Fecha de publicación2005-09-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPersonal Relationships (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1350-4126 • E-ISSN: 1475-6811
EditorialWiley (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1111/j.1475-6811.2005.00123.x
OpenAlexW2124190092
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas10
Referencias citadas61

Depression is associated with marital distress and attachment insecurity in romantic relationships. In this article, I propose an attachment-theory model of depression, which links the characteristics of romantic partners to attachment insecurity and depression. I hypothesized that individuals who are avoidant of closeness and/or who devalue their spouses will be perceived as unresponsive to their spouses’ vulnerability, which will increase the spouse's attachment insecurity. Attachment insecurity was then proposed to contribute to depressive symptoms over time. A sample of married or cohabiting couples was recruited to complete questionnaires at an Internet Web site at 2 time points, approximately 3 months apart. Path analysis showed that for both husbands (N= 82) and wives (N= 99), avoidance of closeness in 1 partner was associated with perceived unresponsiveness to vulnerability and attachment insecurity in the other partner. In addition, for husbands, attachment insecurity at T1 predicted depressive symptoms at T2, above and beyond baseline levels of depression. These results provide encouraging support for an attachment-theory approach to the study and treatment of depression, particularly among married or cohabiting men

Anxiety · Attachment theory · Closeness · Computer security · Depressive symptoms · Developmental psychology · Distress · Insecure attachment · Psychiatry · Romance · Spouse · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development · Clinical Psychology · Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum · Psychology