TY - JOUR
T1 - Insecure attachment and emotional distress
T2 - Fear of self-compassion and self-compassion as mediators
AU - Joeng, Ju Ri
AU - Turner, Sherri L.
AU - Kim, Eun Young
AU - Choi, Seung Ae
AU - Lee, Yu Jeong
AU - Kim, Jung Ki
PY - 2017/7/1
Y1 - 2017/7/1
N2 - According to Attachment Theory (Bowlby, 1980), individual differences in adult attachment styles are based on attachments formed during infancy with primary caregivers. Adults who form secure attachments feel safe and secure in their relationships. Those who form insecure attachments do not. According to Self-Compassion Theory (Neff, 2003a, 2003b), and supported by research, self-compassion (i.e., compassionate attitudes and behaviors towards oneself) is associated with a variety of positive psychological outcomes, while a lack of self-compassion is associated with psychological distress (e.g., Barnard & Curry, 2011). Additionally, the fear of self-compassion has been negatively associated with self-compassion (Joeng & Turner, 2015). In this current study, we extend the research on attachment and self-compassion by examining how self-compassion and fear of self-compassion mediate two types of insecure attachment styles, anxious attachment and avoidant attachment, and two indicators of emotional distress, depression and anxiety, among 473 Korean college students. Structural equation modeling indicated that self-compassion independently mediated, and fear of self-compassion and self-compassion serially mediated, the paths from anxious and avoidant attachment to depression and anxiety in expected directions. Results are interpreted from the perspective of Korean culture, including the influence of Confucianism on the expression of self-compassion.
AB - According to Attachment Theory (Bowlby, 1980), individual differences in adult attachment styles are based on attachments formed during infancy with primary caregivers. Adults who form secure attachments feel safe and secure in their relationships. Those who form insecure attachments do not. According to Self-Compassion Theory (Neff, 2003a, 2003b), and supported by research, self-compassion (i.e., compassionate attitudes and behaviors towards oneself) is associated with a variety of positive psychological outcomes, while a lack of self-compassion is associated with psychological distress (e.g., Barnard & Curry, 2011). Additionally, the fear of self-compassion has been negatively associated with self-compassion (Joeng & Turner, 2015). In this current study, we extend the research on attachment and self-compassion by examining how self-compassion and fear of self-compassion mediate two types of insecure attachment styles, anxious attachment and avoidant attachment, and two indicators of emotional distress, depression and anxiety, among 473 Korean college students. Structural equation modeling indicated that self-compassion independently mediated, and fear of self-compassion and self-compassion serially mediated, the paths from anxious and avoidant attachment to depression and anxiety in expected directions. Results are interpreted from the perspective of Korean culture, including the influence of Confucianism on the expression of self-compassion.
KW - Anxiety
KW - Anxious attachment
KW - Avoidant attachment
KW - Depression
KW - Fear of self-compassion
KW - Self-compassion
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85013972027&partnerID=8YFLogxK
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U2 - 10.1016/j.paid.2017.02.048
DO - 10.1016/j.paid.2017.02.048
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85013972027
SN - 0191-8869
VL - 112
SP - 6
EP - 11
JO - Personality and Individual Differences
JF - Personality and Individual Differences
ER -