The moderation effect of mindfulness on the relationship between adult attachment and wellbeing

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2016.02.080Get rights and content

Highlights

  • MRA was used to investigate the predictive ability of attachment on wellbeing.

  • HMR was used to investigate the moderation effect of mindfulness.

  • Participants had no specific mindfulness training.

  • Mindfulness and attachment anxiety are significant predictors of wellbeing.

  • Mindfulness significantly moderated the attachment–wellbeing relationship.

Abstract

Attachment theory was developed by Bowlby (1980) to explore the propensity of humans to make strong affectional bonds with significant others and to explain the different forms of emotional distress experienced when these relationships are disrupted. The concept of adult attachment is commonly employed in empirical studies of psychological interventions. One such intervention that significantly increases wellbeing is mindfulness. Mindfulness diminishes the extent to which circumstances are judged as positive or negative. Therefore, mindfulness might decrease the extent to which working models, primed by feelings of threat, are activated. To quantify what effect mindfulness has on wellbeing, the current study explored the relationship between adult attachment, wellbeing and mindfulness. Participants (N = 165) completed an online survey which included the Experiences in Close Relationships—Revised Questionnaire (ECR-R), the Friedberg Mindfulness Inventory (FMI-14) and the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale—short form (DASS-21). Results indicated that wellbeing, assessed by measures of depression, anxiety and stress, was strongly associated with an individual's attachment style. However, only attachment anxiety showed a predictive capacity on wellbeing. Furthermore, the results indicate that mindfulness is a significant moderator in the relationship, with mindfulness diminishing the effect of insecure attachment on wellbeing.

Section snippets

Current study

In attachment theory, the core of what remains stable over time as a residue of attachment experiences is thought to be the internal working model, or the mental representations of self, others and relationships constructed early in life. Research supports that attachment patterns based on these working models are strongly associated with wellbeing in adulthood, with insecure attachment being seen as an indicator of an individual being predisposed to higher levels of anxiety and depressive

Participants

Participants (N = 167) were recruited to complete an online survey via social media platforms including Facebook, as well as through the student online learning system Learnline. The sample comprised 137 females (82%) and 30 males (18%). Ages ranged from 18 to 72 years (Median = 45 years). Participants were volunteers and received no incentive to participate.

Adult attachment

The Experiences in Close Relationships—Revised Questionnaire (ECR-R) is a 36-item self-report measure of attachment anxiety (18 items) and

Results

In order to investigate the effects of attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance and mindfulness on current wellbeing a linear regression, hierarchical multiple regression and independent t test were conducted. All variables met the assumptions of normality, linearity, and homoscedasticity. Age and gender were not significant independent predictors of wellbeing, mindfulness or attachment style and were not included in further analyses (Fig. 1).

Discussion

The association between adult attachment and wellbeing is well established (Bekker & Croon, 2010); less is known about how mindfulness moderates the relationship. It was hypothesised that attachment anxiety would contribute to wellbeing over and above attachment avoidance, and that mindfulness would moderate this relationship. These hypotheses were partially supported with attachment anxiety being the only predictor of wellbeing. As expected, mindfulness was found to have a large moderating

Limitations

While these findings are an important step in determining the effect of mindfulness on attachment style, additional research is needed to broaden and confirm the findings. An identified limitation in this study is data were obtained exclusively by self-report measures which are subjective by nature and vulnerable to bias (Kikken & Shook, 2012). For example, participants were asked about past and present relationships in assessing their attachment style. Their responses may be generalised from

Conclusion

The findings in this study suggest that wellbeing, as assessed by measures of depression, anxiety and stress, is strongly associated with an individual's attachment style. Individuals with a secure attachment style reported lower levels of depression, anxiety and stress relative to individuals with an insecure attachment style. These results do not conclude that insecure attachment causes psychopathology directly but do suggest that an individual rating high on the insecure attachment

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