Exploring the Cognitive-Emotional Pathways between Adult Attachment and Ego-Resiliency
Author(s): Jon G. Caldwell, Phillip R. Shaver
Abstract: Adult attachment-related anxiety and avoidance are associated with maladaptive social functioning. We investigated the cognitive-emotional patterns associated with these adult attachment dimensions and their relations to a flexible and resilient approach to life. A sample of adults (N = 388) completed questionnaires regarding adult attachment, emotional expression and regulation, and ego-resiliency. Structural equation modeling showed that attachment anxiety, together with rumination, contributed to elevated negative affect, decreased mood repair, and in turn, lower ego-resiliency. In contrast, attachment-related avoidance, together with emotional suppression, was associated with diminished clarity and repair of moods, which together predicted lower ego-resiliency. Total indirect effects were significant in each model, but specific mediating pathways involving rumination and suppression were significant for women, but not for men. These results reaffirm that attachment insecurities are associated with suboptimal socioemotional functioning, but suggest distinct pathways depending on the form of insecurity and its related emotional dynamics.
Keywords: Functionalism; Anxiety; Avoidance; Attachment styles; Cognition; Emotions
Pages: 141-152
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