Abstract

Both anxiety and depression have been shown to be a result of early negative attachment experiences. The quality of parenting is one variable that affects attachment security, therefore correlating with the development of anxiety and depression in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating effect of attachment in the relationship between mother and father's parenting in childhood and adult symptoms of anxiety and depression. The study focused on 680 married or remarried heterosexual couples that took the RELATE questionnaire between 2011 and 2013. Results indicated insecure attachment mediates the relationship between poor parenting and symptoms of anxiety and depression for men and women. In addition, results showed a partner effect between a wife's attachment security and her husband's anxiety. Clinical implications include assessing for attachment insecurity when clients exhibit symptoms of anxiety and depression. Individual and couple-specific interventions are discussed.

Degree

MS

College and Department

Family, Home, and Social Sciences; Marriage and Family Therapy

Rights

http://lib.byu.edu/about/copyright/

Date Submitted

2016-04-01

Document Type

Thesis

Handle

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/etd8528

Keywords

anxiety, attachment, depression, marriage, parenting

Language

english

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