title: Attachment and mental and physical health: self-compassion and mattering as mediators.
abstract: Research shows a strong link between adult attachment and mental and physical health, but little is known about the mechanisms that underlie these relationships. The present study examined self-compassion and mattering, two constructs from positive psychology literature, as potential mediators. Using survey data from a sample of 208 college students, relationships among attachment, self-compassion, mattering, and functional health were explored. Correlational analyses indicated that attachment anxiety and avoidance were strongly related to the mental health component of functional health. Mediation analyses indicated that mattering and self-compassion mediated the relationships between attachment orientation (i.e., levels of avoidance and anxiety) and mental health. These findings suggest that individuals' abilities to be kind toward themselves and their sense of belonging and being important to others are pathways through which attachment orientation relates to mental health.
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling and Personnel Services, University of Maryland, College Park.
authors.forename: Trisha L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Raque-Bogdan
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park.
authors.forename: Sara K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Ericson
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling and Personnel Services, University of Maryland, College Park.
authors.forename: Helena M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Department of Counseling and Personnel Services, University of Maryland, College Park.
authors.forename: Nicole A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Bryan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D009769:Object Attachment; D012649:Self Concept; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult