Attachment Patterns, Dating Violence, and Coping Strategies as Predictors of Psychological Distress in University Students

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between Attachment Styles, Dating Violence, Coping Responses and Psychological Distress through a Correlational Cross Sectional Research Design. Purposive sampling was utilized to gather data from N=400 participants by using the Urdu translated version of the Attachment Styles Questionnaire, Brief Cope Scale, Dating Violence Scale and Depression Anxiety and Stress Scale. It was hypothesized that there will be a positive relationship between anxious preoccupied attachment, fearful avoidant attachment, dismissive ambivalent attachment, verbal and physical violence, psychological violence, emotion focused coping responses and psychological distress and negative relationship between secure attachment, problem focused coping responses and psychological distress. Findings revealed that anxious- preoccupied attachment was positively related to depression, anxiety, and stress. Fearful-avoidant attachment is positively related to depression and stress, but negatively to anxiety. Secure attachment is negatively related to depression, anxiety and stress. Verbal and physical violence and psychological violence are positively related to depression anxiety and stress. Problem-focused coping is significantly positively related with depression, anxiety and stress. Regression analysis revealed that anxious preoccupied and fearful avoidant attachment are the significant positive predictors of depression. Verbal and physical violence and psychological violence are the significant positive predictors of anxiety. Avoidant coping is a significant negative predictor of stress. This study will have implication in designing interventions that promote healthy attachment and coping strategies among students.