Research on suicidal ideation indicates the significant role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and early parental attachment but fails to investigate risk potential in student populations....Show moreResearch on suicidal ideation indicates the significant role of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and early parental attachment but fails to investigate risk potential in student populations. This study aimed to research how adverse childhood experiences in a population of university students who report mood and stress problems are related to suicidal ideation and whether the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and suicidal ideation is moderated by attachment style. To target students at risk for suicidal ideation, purposive sampling was employed. An independent samples t-test with consecutive multiple regression (n= 234) showed that adverse childhood experiences, measured with the ACE questionnaire, predicted the presence and severity of suicidal ideation, measured by the BSSI. Consecutive ANCOVA showed that disorganized attachment to the mother and father, measured with the PBI, were found to predict suicidal ideation. Secure attachment was negatively associated with suicidal ideation, whereas for avoidant and anxious attachment there was no association found. A logistic regression analysis showed no moderation effect of insecure attachment styles in the relation between adverse childhood experiences and suicidal ideation. Gender, academic pressure, and nationality were controlled. Findings may be limited due to methodological and performance flaws. The results highlight the importance of early identification of adverse childhood experiences and disorganized attachment for intervention and prevention of later suicidal ideation amongst students.Show less
The theory of adult romantic attachment, originating from Bowlby’s attachment theory, suggests that romantic partners create attachment bonds similar to that of the child-parent. Attachment styles...Show moreThe theory of adult romantic attachment, originating from Bowlby’s attachment theory, suggests that romantic partners create attachment bonds similar to that of the child-parent. Attachment styles can be primarily distinguished depending on the levels of anxiety and avoidance a partner exhibits in a bond. This study investigated the roles of gender and age in differences in adult romantic attachment. Male and female participants with an age range of 18 to 70 years from 171 countries completed the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale Questionnaire, a two-dimensional self-report instrument. Firstly, the results showed that females scored higher than males on anxiety and avoidance scales. Further findings demonstrated that gender and age contribute significantly to the prediction of anxiety and avoidance scores. Lastly, gender differences in avoidance scores, but not anxiety scores, were significantly moderated by age, whereby the differences between males and females in avoidance decreased as participants’ age increased (from age 18 to 70). Taken together, this study’s results provide evidence for statistically significant gender differences within adult romantic attachment and suggest attachment variability across different ages.Show less
Introduction: Deliberate self-harm (DSH) has a big impact on a person’s life and has increased in the last decade. DSH can be used to communicate in a different way, explain how someone is feeling,...Show moreIntroduction: Deliberate self-harm (DSH) has a big impact on a person’s life and has increased in the last decade. DSH can be used to communicate in a different way, explain how someone is feeling, manage, regulate or escape from overwhelming emotions and cope with stressors in daily life. Insecure attachment among individuals is more likely to be a risk factor to develop DSH. Of the different form of insecure attachment fearful attachment appears to be most related to DSH. This study examines whether insecure attachment is related to more deliberate self-harming behavior. Method: DSH behavior and attachment styles were crosssectionally assed using an online self-report survey among a sample from the general population (N= 391). A regression model and a non-dimensional Kruskal-Wallis test were used to assess the data. Results: A significant association between insecure attachment and DSH was found, and in addition the result of the Kruskal-Wallis showed a significant association between the different attachment styles and DSH. According to the MannWhitney U-test attachment styles in this sample differed from each other with the highest score on fearful attachment. Discussion: this study shows an association between insecure attachment and DSH and fearful attachment appears to be most strongly related to DSH which is in line with former studies. More research is needed to examine this topic as there appears to be a DSH increase among individuals. Furthermore, it is necessary to broaden this study among the normal population.Show less
