Korean Journal of Human Ecology (한국생활과학회지)

Korean Association of Human Ecology (한국생활과학회)
권호 표지
DOI QR코드

DOI QR Code

Relationship between Adult Attachment and Psychological Well-Being of University Students: The Mediating Effects of Empathic Ability and Depression

대학생의 애착과 심리적 안녕감과의 관계: 공감능력과 우울의 매개효과

  • Received : 2013.11.14
  • Accepted : 2013.12.21
  • Published : 2013.12.31
Download PDF
⟨ Previous Next ⟩

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the mediating effects of empathic ability and depression on the relationship between adult attachment and psychological well-being of university students. We conducted a survey on 318 university students in Cheongju-si and Hongseong gun. The data were analyzed by Pearson' productive correlation, hierarchical regression analysis and Sobel test. The results were as follows: Firstly, anxiety attachment, empathic ability and depression were significant predictors of the psychological well-being of university students. Depression was the strongest predictors psychological well-being. Secondly, depression mediated partially the relationship between anxiety attachment and psychological well-being, and empathic ability and depression mediated partially the relationship between avoidance attachment and psychological well-being. In conclusion, the empathic ability and depression mediate the effects of adult attachment on psychological well-being of university students. The implications and limitations of this study were discussed.

Keywords

References

  1. American College Health Association. (2006). The american college health association national college health assessment (ACHA-NCHA): Reference group data report-spring 2006. Baltimore: American College Health Association.
  2. An, J. K. (2008). The mediating effect of empathy in the relationship of adult attachment and conflict management strategy. Unpublished master's thesis, Kyungbuk National University, Korea.
  3. An, J. Y., Oh M. K., & Kim, J. S. (2011). The pathways from attachment to children's psychological well-being: The mediating effects of children's ego-resilience and peer support. The Korean Journal of Child Studies, 32(6), 63-79.
  4. Barnett, M. A. (1987). Empathy and related response in child. In N. Eisenberg & J. Strayer(Eds.), Empathy and its development(pp. 146-162). New York: Cambridge University Press.
  5. Baron, R. M. & Kenny, D. A. (1986). The moderator-mediator variable distinction in social psychological research: Conceptual, strategic, and statistical consideration. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 6, 1173-1182.
  6. Bartholomew, K. & Horowitz, L. (1991). Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four category model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61(2), 226-244. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.61.2.226
  7. Blazer, D. C. (2002). The prevalence of depressive symptoms. Journal of Gerontology Biological Science and Medical Science, 57, 155-161. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/57.3.M155
  8. Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss. Vol.2, Separation. New York: Basic Books.
  9. Bowlby, J. (1977). The making and breaking of affectional bond. British Journal of Psychiatry, 130, 201-210. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.130.3.201
  10. Bowlby, J. (1988). Attachment, communication, and the therapeutic process. In J. Bowlby(Ed.), A secure base: Parent-child attachment and healthy human development(pp. 137-157). New York: Basic Books.
  11. Brennan, K. A., Clark, C. L., & Shaver, P. R. (1998). Self-report measurement of adult attachment: An integrative overview. In J. A. Simpson & W. S. Rholes(Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships(pp. 46-76). New York: Guilford Press.
  12. Bryant, B. (1982). An index of empathy for children and adolescents. Child Development, 53, 413-425 https://doi.org/10.2307/1128984
  13. Carnelley, K. B., Pietromonaco, P. R., & Jatte, K. (1994). Depression, working modes of others, and relationship functioning. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 66, 127-140. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.66.1.127
  14. Cho, H. I. & Lee, M. H. (2010). The mediating effect of prosocial behavior in the relation between empathic ability and psychological well-being. Korea Youth Research Association, (17)11, 139-158.
  15. Chon, K, K., Choi, S. J., & Yang B. C. (2001). Integrated adaptation of CES-D in Korea. The Korean Journal of Health Psychology, 6(1), 59-76.
  16. Chun, B. S. (2003). Relationship between empathy and altruistic behavior. Unpublished master's thesis, Chungnam National University, Korea.
  17. Cooper, M. l., Shaver, P. R., & Collins, N. L. (1998). Attachment styles, emotion regulation, and adjustment in adolescence. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 74, 1380-1397. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.74.5.1380
  18. Davis, M. H. (1980). A multimediational approach to individual difference in empathy. JSAS Catalog of Selected Documents in Psychology, 10, 85.
  19. Diener, M. J. & Monroe, J. M. (2011). The relationship between adult attachment style and therapeutic alliance in individual psychotherapy: A metaanalytic review. Psychotherapy, 48(3), 237-248. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022425
  20. Fraley, R. C. & Waller, N. G. (1998). Adult attachment patterns: A test of the typological model. In J. A. Simpson & W. S. Rholes(Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships(pp.77-114). New York: Guilford Press.
  21. Gholamzadeh, M., Hasanloo, H. O., & Moslemifar, M. (2012). Happiness and willingness to communicate in three attachment styles: A study on college students. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 46, 294-298. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2012.05.109
  22. Hammen, C. L. (1991). The generation of stress in the course of unipolar depression. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 100(4), 555-561. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843X.100.4.555
  23. Han, Y. M. (2010). The mediation effect of college students stress coping style on the relationship among family strengths, ego-resilience and depression. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Hongik University, Korea.
  24. Hauenstein, E. J. (2003). Depression in adolescence. Journal of Obstetric Gynecologic and Neonatal Nursing, 32(2), 239-248. https://doi.org/10.1177/0884217503252133
  25. Hazan, C. & Shaver, P. R. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52, 511-524. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.52.3.511
  26. Hogan, R. (1969). Development of empathy scale. Journal of Counseling and Clinical Psychology, 33, 307-316. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0027580
  27. Hopko, D. R. & Mullane, C. M. (2008). Exploring the relation of depression and overt behavior with daily diaries. Behaviour Research and Therapy, 46, 1085-1089. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.brat.2008.05.002
  28. Hwang, A. R. (2010). Relationship between attachment and psychological well-being in adolescents: The mediating effects of basic psychological needs. Unpublished master's thesis, Sungshin Women's University, Korea.
  29. Jeong K. A. & Kim, B. H. (2010). Adult attachment, empathic ability, and marital satisfaction. Journal of Human Understanding and Counseling, 31(1), 89-104.
  30. Jeong, M., Lee, M. R., & Noh, A. Y. (2006). The mediating effects of social interest on the relationship between attachment and psychological well-being. The Korea Journal of Counseling, 7(4), 1023-1038.
  31. Kang, J. K. (2001). Mental representation of parents in childhood and adult romantic attachment: Cross-sectional and longitudinal examination. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Ewha women's University, Korea.
  32. Karreman, A. & Vingerhoets, AJJM. (2012). Attachment and well-being: The mediating role of emotion regulation and resilience. Personality and Individual Differences, 53(7), 821-826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2012.06.014
  33. Kassel, J. D., Wardle, M., & Roberts, J. E. (2007). Adult attachment security and college student substance use. Addictive Behaviors, 32(6), 1164–1176. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2006.08.005
  34. Kerr, S., Johnson, V. K., Gans, S. E., & Krumrine, J. (2004). Predicting adjustment during the transition to college: Alexithymia, perceived stress, and psychological symptoms. Journal of College Student Development, 45, 593-611. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2004.0068
  35. Keyes, C. L. M. & Lopez, S. J. (2002). Toward a science of mental health: Positive directions in diagnosis and intervention. In C. R. Syneer & S. J. Lopez (Eds.), Handbook of positive psychology(pp. 45-590). New York: Oxford University Press.
  36. Kim, B. J. & Oh, K. J. (2009). Exploration of mediator between adult attachment and depressive mood in college students: Brooding and emotion suppression. The Korean Journal of School Psychology, 6, 357-375. https://doi.org/10.16983/kjsp.2009.6.3.357
  37. Kim, J. H. & Joo, E. S. (2001). Attachment style of a group of juvenile delinquency. The Korean Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 13, 107-125.
  38. Kim, J. M. (2008). The mediating effect of automatic thoughts in the relation between attachment and psychological well-being. Korea Youth Research Association, 15(6), 197-224.
  39. Kim, J. M. (2010). The effect of insecure attachment on psychological well-being : The roles of automatic thoughts, mood awareness, ambivalence over emotional expressiveness, stress coping strategy as mediators. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Hanyang University, Korea.
  40. Kim, M. R. (2009). The effects of middle school students' perceived achievement pressure and empathy ability on psychological well-being and prosocial behavior. Unpublished master's thesis, Hanyang university, Korea.
  41. Kim, M. S., Kim, H. W., & Cha, K. H. (2001). Analyses on the construct of psychological well-being(PWB) of Korea male and female adults. The Korean Journal of Social and Personality Psychology, 15(2), 19-39.
  42. Kim, S. H. S. (2012). The moderating effects of self-acceptance in terms of the interpersonalrelationships, depression, anxiety of high school students. The Korean Journal of Child Studies, 33(2), 119-130. https://doi.org/10.5723/KJCS.2012.33.3.119
  43. Kim, Y. H. (2012). The effect of insecure attachment on psychological well-being: The roles of emotional experiences as mediators. Korea Youth Research Association, 19(9), 231-256.
  44. Lee, J. Y. & Choi, H. C. (2012). Hope as a mediator between adult attachment and depression in university students. Korean Journal of Counseling, 13(2), 819-838. https://doi.org/10.15703/kjc.13.2.201204.819
  45. Lee, K. Y. & Song, H. J. (2013). The effect of exercise participation on the psychological well-being, college life satisfaction, and happiness index of college students. The Korean Journal of Physical Education, 52(2), 95-105.
  46. Lee, S. H., Kim, D. M., & Seo, Y. S. (2006). The effects of counselor' attachment styles and counseling experiences on empathic ability. The Korean Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 18(2), 303-218.
  47. Lee, S. J. (2009). The effect of sense of social connectedness and autonomy on college adjustment and subjective well-being among university students: Testing a mediation effect of interpersonal problems. The Korean Journal of School Psychology, 6(2), 229-248. https://doi.org/10.16983/kjsp.2009.6.2.229
  48. Ling, X., Jiang, G., & Xia, Q. (2008). Relationship between normal university freshmen's adult attachment towards different subjects and subjective well-being. Chines Journal of Clinical Psychology, 16(1), 71-73.
  49. Lopez, F. G. & Brennan, K. A. (2000). Dynamic process underlying adult attachment organization: Toward on attachment theoretical perspective on the healthy and effective self. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 47, 283-301. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.47.3.283
  50. Love, K. M. & Murdock, T. B. (2004). Attachment to parents and psychological well-being: An examination of young adult college students in intact families and stepfamilies. Journal of Family Psychology, 18(4), 600-608. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.18.4.600
  51. Mattanah, J. F., Hancock, G. R., & Brand, B. L. (2004). Parental attachment, separation-Individuation, and college student adjustment: A structural equation analysis of mediational effects. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 51(2), 213-225. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.51.2.213
  52. Mehrabian, A. & Epstein, N. (1972). A measure of emotional empathy. Journal of Personality, 40(4), 525-543. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-6494.1972.tb00078.x
  53. Miller, G. D. & Baldwin, D. C. (2000). Implications of the wounded-healer paradigm for the use of the self in therapy. In M, Baldwin(Ed.), The use of the self in therapy(pp.243-261). New York: Haworth.
  54. Min, S. Y. (2010). Depression, self-esteem and quality of life in a community population. Journal of Korean Academy of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 19, 1-10.
  55. Panfile, T. M. & Laible, D. J. (2012). Attachment security and child's empathy: The mediating role of emotion regulation. Merrill-Palmer Quarterly, 58(1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1353/mpq.2012.0003
  56. Park, J. E. & Lee, E. H. (2008). Adolescents' insecure attachments and problem behaviors: The moderating role of empathic ability. The Korean Journal of Counseling and Psychotherapy, 20(2), 303-317.
  57. Park, J. E. & Lee, E. H. (2010). The effects of anxious attachment and avoidant attachment on interpersonal problems: The mediation effects of depressive experience style. The Korean Journal of Clinical Psychology, 29(2), 441-452. https://doi.org/10.15842/kjcp.2010.29.2.006
  58. Park, S. H. (1994). Empathy and prosocial behavior. Seoul: Moonumsa.
  59. Pritchard, M. E. & Wilson, G. S. (2003). Using emotional and social factors to predict student success. Journal of College Student Development, 44, 18-28. https://doi.org/10.1353/csd.2003.0008
  60. Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1(3), 385-401. https://doi.org/10.1177/014662167700100306
  61. Rogers, C. R. (1973). Empathy: An unappreciated way of being. Counseling Psychology, 5, 2-10.
  62. Rudolf, H. & Pribe, S. (2002). Objective quality of life and depressive symptoms in women with alcoholism during detoxification treatment. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 66, 71-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0376-8716(01)00183-1
  63. Ryff, C. D. (1989). Happiness is everything, or is it? Exploration on the meaning of psychological well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 57(6), 1069-1081. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.57.6.1069
  64. Ryff, C. D. & Keyes, C. M.(1995). The structure of psychological well-being revisited, Journal of Personality and Social Psychological, 69(4), 719-727. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.69.4.719
  65. Sealre, B. & Meara, N. M. (1999). Affective dimension of attachment styles: Exploring self-reported attachment style, gender, and emotional experience among college student. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 46, 147-158. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.46.2.147
  66. Seo, S. A. (2007). The relationship between empathy ability and leadership life skills of elementary school students. Unpublished master's thesis, Cheongju Education University, Korea.
  67. Shaver, P. R. & Hazan, C. (1993). Adult romantic attachment: Theory and evidance. In D. Pertiman & W. Jones (Eds.), Advances in personal relationships(Vol, 4, pp.29-70). London: Jessica Kingsley.
  68. Simonelli, L. E., Ray, W. J., & Pincus, A. L. (2004). Attachment models and their relationship with anxiety, worry and depression. Counseling and Clinical Psychology Journal, 1, 107-118.
  69. Sobel, M. E. (1982). Asymptotic confidence intervals for indirect effects in structural equation models. In S. Leinhart(Ed.), Sociological methodology(pp. 290-312). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
  70. Taber, B. J., Leibert, T. W., & Agaskar, V. R. (2011). Relationship among client-therapist personality congruence, working alliance, and therapeutic outcome. Psychotherapy: Theory, Research, Practice, Training, 48(4), 376-380. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0022066
  71. Trusy, J., Ng, K. M., & Watt, R. E. (2005). Model of effect of adult attachment on emotional empathy of counseling student. Journal of Counseling and Development, 83, 66-77. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6678.2005.tb00581.x
  72. Wallin, D. J. (2007). Attachment in psychotherapy. New York: The Guilford Press.
  73. Wei, M., Heppner, P. P., & Malinckrodt, B. (2003). Perceived coping as a mediator between attachment and psychological distress: A structural equation modeling approach. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 50, 438-447. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.50.4.438
  74. Wei, M., Shaffer, P. A., Young, S. K., & Zakalik, R. A. (2005). Adult attachment, shame, depression, and loneliness: The mediation role of basic psychological needs satisfaction. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 52, 591-601. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0167.52.4.591
  75. Whisman, M. A. & McGarvey, A. L. (1995). Attachment, depressotypic cognitions, and dysphonia. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 19, 633-650. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02227858
  76. Wolgien, C. S. & Coady, N. F. (1997). Good therapist's beliefs about the development of their helping ability: The wounded healer paradigm revisited. The Clinical Supervisor, 15, 19-35. https://doi.org/10.1300/J001v15n02_02
  77. Won, D. R. & Kim, K. H. (2005). How can we pursue psychological well-being. Korean Journal of Health Psychology, 11(1), 125-145.
  78. Woo, H. J. & Choi, J. M. (2004). The study of the effect of the maternal parenting stress on the children depression. The Korean Journal of Child Studies, 25(4), 191-200.
  79. Yoo, K. J. (2005). The influence of attachment on social support and psychological well-being. Unpublished master's thesis, Hanyang University, Korea.

Cited by

  1. The Relationship among Adult Attachment, Emotion Regulation Style, and Psychological Well-being of University Students vol.24, pp.5, 2015, https://doi.org/10.5934/kjhe.2015.24.5.645
  2. Adult Attachment Styles across Close Relationships among Korean College Students: A Latent Profile Analysis vol.33, pp.4, 2015, https://doi.org/10.7466/JKHMA.2015.33.4.119
  3. Mediating Effects of Basic Psychological Needs in Parent-Child Relationships between Perceived Parental Attachment and the Life Satisfaction of College Students vol.29, pp.2, 2017, https://doi.org/10.13000/JFMSE.2017.29.2.466
  4. 부모와의 애착이 대학생의 심리적 안녕감에 미치는 영향에서 대인관계유능성의 매개효과 vol.17, pp.2, 2013, https://doi.org/10.5392/jkca.2017.17.02.001