The Relationships of Personality Disorder Attributes, Attachment Styles, and Depression

Abstract

Personality disorder (PD) is characterized by a dysfunction in interpersonal functioning. Thus, the influence of attachment style underlying PDs has been pointed out. Previous studies have revealed the relationship of borderline, narcissistic, histrionic, dependent, and avoidant PDs with maladaptive attachment styles, and its corresponding effects on mental health. However, mediating processes underlying these relationships have not been studied. This study aimed to examine the mediating effects of PDs between maladaptive attachment styles and depression. The participants included 298 undergraduates who completed a questionnaire that included items about borderline, narcissistic, histrionic, dependent, and avoidant PDs, the two dimensions of attachment styles, and depression. The results of an SEM and mediation analysis showed that borderline and avoidant PDs mediated between each maladaptive attachment style and depression. Additionally, it was found that histrionic PD mediated only between the anxious attachment style and depression, and that it suppressed depression.