Abstract
While many studies have focused on resilience development, few have explored resilience development in adolescents with insecure attachment (attachment anxiety/attachment avoidance). This paper (1) addressed how self-compassion and self-efficacy mediated insecure attachment’s influence on resilience, (2) examined the extent to which the two mediators could mitigate insecure attachment’s influence on resilience, and (3) explored where in the mediation process the mitigation started to occur. The sample was composed of 269 American teenagers. Structural Equation Modeling was applied to analyze data. Self-compassion and self-efficacy, in sequence, mediated insecure attachment’s influence on resilience. In the mediation process, self-compassion and self-efficacy significantly mitigated insecure attachment’s influence on resilience. The mitigation was initiated by self-compassion and followed by self-efficacy, rather than the opposite direction. Practical implications are discussed.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Alborzi, M., Khoshbakht, F., Golzar, H. R., & Sabri, M. (2015). The relationship between attachment styles and resiliency: The mediating role of emotional intelligence. Developmental Psychology: Journal of Iranian Psychologists, 11(44), 425–436.
Altena, A. M., Krabbenborg, M. A. M., Boersma, S. N., Beijersbergen, M. D., van den Berg, Y. H. M., Vollebergh, W. A. M., & Wolf, J. R. L. M. (2017). The working alliance between homeless young adults and workers: A dyadic approach. Children and Youth Services Review, 73, 368–374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2017.01.01
Anderson, L. E., Connor, J. P., Voisey, J., Young, R. M., & Gullo, M. J. (2019). The unique role of attachment dimensions and peer drinking in adolescent alcohol use. Personality and Individual Differences, 149, 118–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.05.048
Arbuckle, J. L. (2015). IBM SPSS Amos 23 [computer program] user’s guide. IBM Amos development Corporation. Retrieved May 15, 2020, from https://www.pdfdrive.com/ibm-spss-amos-23-users-guide-e33596983.html
Bandalos, D. L. (2014). Relative performance of categorical diagonally weighted least squares and robust maximum likelihood estimation. Structural Equation Modeling, 21(1), 102–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705511.2014.859510
Bakermans-kranenburg, M., & Van IJzendoorn, M. H. (2009). The first 10,000 Adult Attachment Interviews: Distributions of adult attachment representations in clinical and non-clinical groups. Attachment & Human Development, 11(3), 223–263. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616730902814762
Bandura, A. (1994). Self-efficacy. In V. S. Ramachaudran (Ed.), Encyclopedia of human behavior (Vol. 4, pp. 71–81). Academic Press
Bender, A., & Ingram, R. (2018). Connecting attachment style to resilience: Contributions of self-care and self-efficacy. Personality and Individual Differences, 130, 18–20. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.03.038
Berry, J. W. (2013). Achieving a global psychology. Canadian Psychology / Psychologie Canadienne, 54(1), 55–61. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031246
Bluth, K., Mullarkey, M., & Lathren, C. (2018). Self-compassion: A potential path to adolescent resilience and positive exploration. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 27, 37–3047. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-018-1125-1
Bowlby, J. (1969). Attachment and loss: Vol 1, attachment. Basic Books
Bruin, E. I., van der Zwan, J., & Esi, & Bögels, S. M. (2016). A RCT comparing daily mindfulness meditations, biofeedback exercises, and daily physical exercise on attention control, executive functioning, mindful awareness, self-compassion, and worrying in stressed young adults. Mindfulness, 7(5), 1182–1192. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12671-016-0561-5
Buoet, D. (2006). The power of connection: The relation between attachment and resiliency in a sample of high-risk adolescents. [Unpublished Doctoral dissertation]. University of British Columbia. Retrieved April 14, 2020, from https://open.library.ubc.ca/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/831/items/1.0054364
Caldwell, J. G., & Shaver, P. R. (2012). Exploring the cognitive-emotional pathways between adult attachment and ego-resiliency. Individual Differences Research, 10(3), 141–152.
Calvo, V., & Bianco, F. (2015). Influence of adult attachment insecurities on parenting self-esteem: The mediating role of dyadic adjustment. Frontiers in psychology, 6, article 1461. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2015.01461
Collins, N. L. (1996). Working models of attachment: Implications for explanation, emotion, and behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71(4), 810–832. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.71.4.810
Costa-Martins, J., Moura-Ramos, M., Cascais, M. J., da Silva, C. F., Costa-Martins, H., Pereira, M., Coelho, R., & Tavares, J. (2016). Adult attachment style and cortisol responses in women in late pregnancy. BMC Psychology, 4, 11. Retrieved April 14, 2020, from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26754482/
Dodd, Z., Driver, S., Warren, A., Riggs, S., & Clark, M. (2015). Effects of adult romantic attachment and social support on resilience and depression in individuals with spinal cord injuries. Topics in Spinal Cord Injury Rehabilitation, 21(2), 156–165. https://doi.org/10.1310/sci2102-156
Dray, J. (2021). Child and adolescent mental health and resilience-focused interventions: A conceptual analysis to inform future research. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(14), 7315. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18147315
Dreisoerner, A., Junker, N. M., & Dick, R. V. (2021). The relationship among the components of self-compassion: A pilot study using a compassionate writing intervention to enhance self-kindness, common humanity, and mindfulness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 22, 21–47. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10902-019-00217-4
Ellis, B. J., Bianchi, J. M., Griskevicius, V., & Frankenhuis, W. E. (2017). Beyond risk and protective factors: An adaptation-based approach to resilience. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 12(4), 561–587. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691617693054
Engel, M. L., Barnes, A. J., Henry, T. R., Garwick, A. E., & Scal, P. B. (2019). Medical risk and resilience in adolescents and young adults with epilepsy: The role of self-management self-efficacy. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 44(10), 1224–1233. https://doi.org/10.1093/jpepsy/jsz063
Faul, F., Erdfelder, E., Buchner, A., & Lang, A.-G. (2009). Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: Tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behavior Research Methods, 41(4), 1149–1160. https://doi.org/10.3758/BRM.41.4.1149
Forero, C. G., Maydeu-Olivares, A., & Gallardo-Pujol, D. (2009). Factor analysis with ordinal indicators: A Monte Carlo study comparing DWLS and ULS estimation. Structural Equation Modeling, 16(4), 625–641. https://doi.org/10.1080/10705510903203573
Fusco, R. A. (2019). Perceptions of strengths-based child welfare practices among mothers with drug use histories. Journal of Family Issues, 40(17), 2478–2498. https://doi.org/10.1177/0192513X19859392
Goetz, J. L., Keltner, D., & Simon-Thomas, E. (2010). Compassion: An evolutionary analysis and empirical review. Psychological Bulletin, 136(3), 351–374. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0018807
Grime, Y. U., Overall, N. C., & Simpson, J. A. (2015). “All or nothing”: Attachment avoidance and the curvilinear effects of partner support. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(3), 450–475. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0038866
Hayes, A. F. (2018). Introduction to mediation, moderation, and conditional process analysis: A regression-based approach (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Homan, K. J. (2014). A mediation model linking attachment to God, self-compassion, and mental health. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 17(10), 977–989. https://doi.org/10.1080/13674676.2014.984163
Iskender, M. (2009). The relationship between self-compassion, self-efficacy, and control belief about learning in Turkish university students. Social Behavior and Personality, 37(5), 711–720. https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.2009.37.5.711
Jenkins, J. K. (2016). The relationship between resilience, attachment, and emotional coping styles. [Unpublished Master’s thesis]. Old dominion university. Retrieved April 14, 2020, from https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1027&context=psychology_etds
Jones-Smith, E. (2014). Strengths-based therapy: Connecting theory, practice, and skills. Sage.
Jose, P. E. (2013). Doing statistical mediation and moderation. Guilford Press.
Karreman, A., & Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M. (2012). Attachment and well-being: The mediating role of emotion regulation and resilience. Personality and Individual Differences, 53(7), 821–826. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2012.06.014
Katsumata, M., & Mohanan, S. A. (2020). The influence of self-concept on resilience being mediated by self-compassion and compassion for others among Thai adolescents. Scholar: Human Sciences, 12(1), 20–36. Retrieved March 10, 2021, from http://www.assumptionjournal.au.edu/index.php/Scholar/article/view/3531
LaRocca, B. (April 15, 2017). Self-Efficacy Toolkit. Retrieved March 10, 2021, from https://www.transformingeducation.org/self-efficacy-toolkit/
Latorre, C., Leppma, M., Platt, L. F., Shook, N., & Daniels, J. (2021). The relationship between mindfulness and self-compassion for self-assessed competency and self-efficacy of psychologists-in-training. Training and Education in Professional Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/tep0000395
Lee, J. H., Nam, S. K., Kim, A.-R., Kim, B., Lee, M. Y., & Lee, S. M. (2013). Resilience: A meta-analytic approach. Journal of Counseling & Development, 91(3), 269–279. https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1556-6676.2013.00095.x
Li, C.-N., Shi, X.-X., & Tuo, R. (2014). Relationship of adult attachment, meta-mood and ego resilience among college students: Mediating role of meta-mood. Chinese Mental Health Journal, 28(2), 156–160.
Li, M.-H., Eschenauer, R., & Persaud, V. (2018). Between avoidance and problem-solving: Resilience, self-efficacy and social support-seeking. Journal of Counseling & Development, 96(2), 132–143. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12187
Liu, C., & Li, H. (2018). Stressors and stressor appraisals: The moderating effect of task efficacy. Journal of Business and Psychology, 33(1), 141–154. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10869-016-9483-4
Liu, D., Zhou, Y., Li, G., & He, Y. (2020). The factors associated with depression in schizophrenia patients: The role of self-efficacy, self-esteem, hope and resilience. Psychology, Health, and Medicine, 25(4), 457–469. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2019.1695862
Main, M., & Solomon, J. (1986). Discovery of an insecure-disorganized/disoriented attachment pattern. In T. B. Brazelton & M. W. Yogman (Eds.), Affective development in infancy (pp. 95–124). Ablex Publishing.
Manavipour, D., & Saeedian, Y. (2016). The role of self-compassion and control belief about learning in university students’ self-efficacy. Journal of Contextual Behavioral Science, 5(2), 121–126. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcbs.2016.02.003
Masten, A. S. (2001). Ordinary Magic. American Psychologist, 56(3), 227–238. https://doi.org/10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.227
Masten, A. S. (2015). Pathways to integrated resilience science. Psychological Inquiry, 26(2), 187–196. https://doi.org/10.1080/1047840X.2015.1012041
Masten, A. S. (2021). Resilience of children in disasters: A multisystem perspective. International Journal of Psychology, 56(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijop.12737
Mattingly, B. A., & Lewandowski, G. W., Jr. (2013). An expanded self is a more capable self: The association between self-concept size and self-efficacy. Self and Identity, 12(6), 621–634. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2012.718863
Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2003). The attachment behavioral system in adulthood: Activation, psychodynamics, and interpersonal processes. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 35, 53–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(03)01002-5
Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2004). Security-based self-representations in adulthood: Contents and processes. In J. A. Simpson & W. S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships (pp. 46–76). Guilford Press.
Neff, K. (2003). Self-compassion: An alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself. Self and Identity, 2(2), 85–101. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860309032
Neff, K., & Davidson, O. (2016). Self-compassion: Embracing suffering with kindness. In I. Ivtzan & T. Itai (Eds.), Mindfulness in positive psychology: The science of meditation and wellbeing (pp. 37–50). Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group.
Nevitt, J., & Hancock, G. R. (2001). Performance of bootstrapping approaches to model test statistics and parameter standard error estimation in structural equation modeling. Structural Equation Modeling, 8(3), 353–377. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15328007SEM0803_2
Orbke, S., & Smith, H. L. (2013). A developmental framework for enhancing resiliency in adult survivors of childhood abuse. International Journal for the Advancement of Counseling, 35, 46–56. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-012-9164-6
Pasalich, D. S., Dadds, M. R., Hawes, D. J., & Brennan, J. (2012). Attachment and callous-unemotional traits in children with early-onset conduct problems. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 53(8), 838–845. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02544.x
Pepping, C. A., Davis, P. J., O’Donovan, A., & Pal, J. (2015). Individual differences in self-compassion: The role of attachment and experiences of parenting in childhood. Self and Identity, 14(1), 104–117. https://doi.org/10.1080/15298868.2014.955050
Pidgeon, A. M., Ford, L., & Klaassen, F. (2013). Evaluating the effectiveness of enhancing resilience in human service professionals using a retreat-based Mindfulness with Metta Training Program: A randomized control trial. Psychology, Health and Medicine, 19(3), 355–364. https://doi.org/10.1080/13548506.2013.806815
Raes, F., Pommier, E., Neff, K. D., & Gucht, D. V. (2011). Construction and factorial validation of a short Form of the Self-Compassion Scale. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 18(3), 250–255. https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.702
Raque-Bogdan, T. L., Piontkowski, S., Hui, K., Ziemer, K. S., & Garriott, P. O. (2016). Self-compassion as a mediator between attachment anxiety and body appreciation: An exploratory model. Body Image, 19, 28–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bodyim.2016.08.001
Rutter, M. (2013). Annual research review: Resilience – clinical implications. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 54(4), 474–487. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1469-7610.2012.02615.x
Sabouripour, F., Roslan, S., Ghiami, Z., & Memon, M. A. (June, 2021). Mediating role of self-efficacy in the relationship between optimism, psychological well-being, and resilience among Iranian students. Frontiers in Psychology/Educational Psychology, 12, article 675645. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.675645
Schwarzer, R., & Jerusalem, M. (1995). Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale. In J. Weinman, S. Wright, & M. Johnston, Measures in health psychology: A user’s portfolio. Causal and control beliefs (pp. 35–37). NFER-NELSON
Smagur, K. E., Bogat, G. A., & Levendosky, A. A. (2018). Attachment insecurity mediates the effects of intimate partner violence and childhood maltreatment on depressive symptoms in adult women. Psychology of Violence, 8(4), 460–469. https://doi.org/10.1037/vio0000142
Sünbüla, Z. A., & Günerib, O. Y. (2019). The relationship between mindfulness and resilience: The mediating role of self compassion and emotion regulation in a sample of underprivileged Turkish adolescents. Personality and Individual Differences, 139, 337–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2018.12.009
Thompson, G., Wrath, A., Trinder, K., & Adams, G. C. (2018). The roles of attachment and resilience in perceived stress in medical students. Canadian Medical Education Journal, 9, e69–e77.
Tsibidaki, A. (2021). Anxiety, meaning in life, self-efficacy and resilience in families with one or more members with special educational needs and disability during COVID-19 pandemic in Greece. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 109, 103830. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103830
Ungar, M. (2008). Resilience across cultures. British Journal of Social Work, 38(2), 218–235. https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcl343
VandenBos, G. R. (Ed.). (2007). APA dictionary of psychology. American Psychological Association.
Villada, C., Hidalgo, V., Almela, M., & Salvador, A. (2018). Assessing performance on an evaluated speaking task: The role of self-efficacy, anxiety, and cardiac autonomic reactivity. Journal of Psychophysiology, 32(2), 64–74. https://doi.org/10.1027/0269-8803/a000185
Wagnild, G. M., & Young, H. M. (1993). Development and psychometric evaluation of the Resilience Scale. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 1(2), 165–178.
Wang, J.-L., & Zhang, D.-J. (2015). Resilience theory and its implications for Chinese adolescents. Psychological Reports, 117(2), 354–375. https://doi.org/10.2466/16.17.PR0.117c21z8
Wang, Q., Zhou, T., Gao, J., Xu, K., Qu, W., & Yang, Y. (2018). Attachment, social support, resilience and posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms in Chinese adults living with HIV/AIDS. Journal of Loss & Trauma, 23(2), 113–127. https://doi.org/10.1080/15325024.2017.1419803
World Health Organization (2021, November 17). Adolescent mental health. Retrieved January 8, 2022, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/adolescent-mental-health
Yendork, J. S., & Somhlaba, N. Z. (2015). Do social support, self-efficacy and resilience influence the experience of stress in Ghanaian orphans? An exploratory study. Child Care in Practice, 21(2), 140–159. https://doi.org/10.1080/13575279.2014.985286
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
Ming-hui Li declares that he has no conflict of interest. Danielle Preziosi declares that she has no conflict of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Li, Mh., Preziosi, D. Developing Resilience from Attachment Anxiety/Avoidance: The Roles of Self-Compassion and Self-Efficacy in An Adolescent Sample in the U.S. Int J Adv Counselling 44, 318–336 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-022-09468-y
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-022-09468-y