The role of adult attachment orientation and coping in psychological adjustment to living with skin conditions

Krasuska, M., Lavda, A. C., Thompson, A. R. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6788-7222 and Millings, A. 2018. The role of adult attachment orientation and coping in psychological adjustment to living with skin conditions. British Journal of Dermatology 178 (6) , pp. 1396-1403. 10.1111/bjd.16268

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Abstract

Background Skin conditions can be associated with significant psychological distress. Investigation of attachment orientation and associated use of coping strategies is a promising perspective from which to investigate psychological adjustment to skin conditions. Objectives To examine the role of adult attachment orientation, conceptualized as two dimensions – attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety – in psychological adjustment [appearance‐related distress and skin‐related quality of life (QoL)], and the mediating role of two coping strategies – defeatism and activity. Methods Attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety, use of coping strategies, appearance‐related distress and skin‐related QoL were assessed via a cross‐sectional online survey in 207 adults with skin conditions. Multiple mediation analyses were performed using PROCESS pathway analysis. Results Overall, higher attachment avoidance and higher attachment anxiety were associated with higher appearance‐related distress and greater impact on emotions and functioning aspects of QoL. For attachment anxiety, the relationship was fully explained by more frequent use of defeatism coping. For attachment avoidance, the relationship was partially explained by more frequent use of defeatism coping (and in the case of appearance‐related distress also more frequent use of activity coping), and higher attachment avoidance was also associated with poorer psychological adjustment in a way that could not be explained by use of assessed coping strategies. Conclusions Insecure attachment orientation (high attachment avoidance or high attachment anxiety) is linked to poorer adjustment. People with insecure attachment might benefit from psychological interventions that target underlying attachment orientation.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Psychology
Publisher:	Wiley
ISSN:	0007-0963
Date of Acceptance:	15 December 2017
Last Modified:	09 Nov 2022 10:48
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/140696

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