Psychological distress in college-aged women: Links with unresolved/preoccupied attachment status and the mediating role of negative mood regulation expectancies

Abstract

In the present study, associations between state of mind regarding attachment, expectancies for negative mood regulation (NMR), and the frequency of psychological problems were specified in a sample of young women (N = 104) involved in a collegiate setting. State of mind regarding attachment was assessed using the Adult Attachment Interview (George, Kaplan, & Main, 1996), while NMR expectancies and psychological health were measured via self-report instruments. The results supported the study hypotheses. As predicted, preoccupied women displayed less confidence in NMR and reported more psychological problems than 7secure and dismissing women. Similar findings were documented when contrasting unresolved/insecure and unresolved/secure women. NMR expectancies mediated relations between state of mind regarding attachment and psychological health. The study results have implications for attachment research and interventions with young adult women involved in collegiate settings.