The effect of personality on depressive symptoms: The mediating effect of adult attachment

Abstract

According to World Health Organization, depression will be the main cause of disability in 2030. Recent research has indicated the need for examination of potential mediators, such as interpersonal deficits, in the relationship between personality and depressive disorders. In the present study, we hypothesized that the dimensions of adult attachment would have a mediating effect on the relationship between big five personality traits and depressive symptoms. The sample consisted of 228 university Greek students. For the data selection, self-reported questionnaires were used. The mediation analysis was conducted through PROCESS. It was revealed that high levels of anxiety and avoidance inside the relationship partially explain the effect of high neuroticism and low extraversion, openness to new experiences and conscientiousness on depressive symptoms. Findings suggest adult attachment as a potential therapeutic goal, taking into consideration the biological imprints of personality traits. Future research could examine the validity of the suggested model of mediating effects on clinical populations diagnosed with depressive disorder or other mental disorders, namely anxiety.