Does attachment anxiety mediate the persistence of anxiety and depressive symptoms from adolescence to early adulthood?

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Depression and anxiety often emerge in adolescence and persist into early adulthood. Developing a greater understanding of the factors that influence their persistence may inform psychological interventions. Their association with an insecure attachment style is well established although the mediating role of attachment anxiety in the persistence of depression and anxiety over time has not been examined. This study aimed to examine if anxious attachment mediated depression and anxiety from adolescence to early adulthood.

Methods

Data from 3,436 participants in a longitudinal birth cohort study were examined. At 14-years and 21-years, participants completed the Achenbach Youth Self Report (YSR) and the Achenbach Young Adult Self-Report (YASR) respectively. At 21-ye

SUBMITTER: Blake JA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11839844 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature