title: Social anxiety as a potential mediator of the association between attachment and depression.
abstract: The study represents a conceptual replication of the study by Eng et al. (2001) in a sample of adult patients diagnosed with social anxiety disorder as primary diagnosis.
  
  
  
  Two different attachment questionnaires (Bielefeld Questionnaire of Client Expectations (BQCE) and Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-RD)) were applied to examine whether the effect of attachment on depression (measured by the BDI) is mediated by social anxiety (measured by the LSAS) in a cross-sectional study.
  
  
  
  The data confirms such a mediation. The effect of attachment measured with the BQCE on depression was completely mediated, whereas the effect of both scales of the ECR-RD (attachment related avoidance and anxiety) on depression was only partially mediated by social anxiety disorder.
  
  
  
  The study supports the association of attachment, social anxiety, and depressive symptoms and the need to consider different perspectives on attachment.
authors.affiliation: Jena University Hospital, Institute of Psychosocial Medicine and Psychotherapy, Germany.
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Manes
authors.affiliation: Jena University Hospital, Institute of Psychosocial Medicine and Psychotherapy, Germany.
authors.forename: Steffi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nodop
authors.affiliation: Jena University Hospital, Institute of Psychosocial Medicine and Psychotherapy, Germany.
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Altmann
authors.affiliation: Jena University Hospital, Institute of Psychosocial Medicine and Psychotherapy, Germany.
authors.forename: Romina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gawlytta
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Dinger
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Essen, Germany.
authors.forename: Wibke
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Dymel
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Germany.
authors.forename: Johannes C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Ehrenthal
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Dresden, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Germany.
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Joraschky
authors.affiliation: Hospital for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Klinikum Esslingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Björn
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Nolting
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Dresden, Department of Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy, Germany.
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Petrowski
authors.affiliation: University of Frankfurt, Department of Psychology, Germany.
authors.forename: Viktoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ritter
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Heidelberg, Department of General Internal Medicine and Psychosomatics, Germany.
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schauenburg
authors.affiliation: University of Frankfurt, Department of Psychology, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Stangier
authors.affiliation: University of Witten-Herdecke, Department of Psychology and Psychotherapy, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Willutzki
authors.affiliation: Jena University Hospital, Institute of Psychosocial Medicine and Psychotherapy, Germany. Electronic address: bernhard.strauss@med.uni-jena.de.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Strauss
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D000072861:Phobia, Social / Q000523:psychology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Adult attachment; Attachment; Bielefeld Questionnaire of Client Expectations; Depression; Experiences in Close Relationships; Mediation; Social anxiety