The relationship between life satisfaction, attachment styles, and psychological resilience in university students

Abstract

Objective: The main aim of the current research is to investigate the relationship of attachment styles to life satisfaction and psychological resilience of university students. Another aim of the present study is to see whether life satisfaction scores differ by the subjects' level of psychological resilience. Method: The current work is a descriptive study using the relational screaning model. The study sample consisted of 425 university students, 302 of whom (71.1%) were female and the remaining 123 (29.9%) male. Convenience sampling was used in selecting the sample. The sample group was composed of undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students. Data was collected through Experiences in Close Relationships Scale II (ECRS-II) for attachment styles, the Satisfaction with Life Scale (SCLS) for life satisfaction, and the Resilience Scale for Adults (RSA) for psychological resilience. Results: Research findings concerning attachment styles of university students indicated that 49.4% of the sample displayed an avoidant and 48.9% an anxious attachment pattern. Individuals taking a score below the median in both anxious and avoidant dimensions of attachment, which constituted 31.7% of the study population, were defined as being securely attached. Study findings showed that the anxiety and avoidance sub-dimensions of attachment negatively predicted the total score of satisfaction with life. An increase in anxious and avoidant attachment scores was associated with lower levels of life satisfaction. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the anxious and avoidant attachment styles did not predict psychological resilience. In addition, satisfaction with life scores of university students varied according to levels of psychological resilience. Individuals who had a high level of psychological resilience were found to have increased satisfaction with life compared to those who had a low level of psychological resilience. Discussion: There are many studies indicating attachment styles to be the main determinant of subjective well-being. Study findings show that secure attachment affects satisfaction with life, which is one of the elements of subjective wellbeing and positive development. It is seen that the ability of university students to adapt to stressful and difficult conditions and to cope with unfavorable situations is associated with their satisfaction with life. Thus, psychotherapeutic interventions focused on improvement of attachment relations and enhancement of psychological resilience may increase the overall satisfaction with life.