Predicting the risk of depression based on attachment styles and identity base

Most people with anxious attachment style use negative emotional regulations strategies and impaired emotional regulations. Use of impaired strategies by those with anxious attachment style causes reduction in their capabilities to cope with stressful situations and makes them vulnerable in the face of problems. The aim of this study is to predict the risk of depression based on attachment styles and identity base in patients with depression and non-patient individuals. In order to do this, through a descriptive correlational study, 75 patients diagnosed with depression (after screening) and 74 non-patient individuals were selected by purposive sampling method and were assessed for general health, depression, attachment styles and identity base. Logistic regression analysis showed that secure attachment style and anxious attachment style respectively could in negative way and positive way predict the probability of depression. Also, increasing scores of individual’s informational and normative styles decreases the likelihood of being depressed; and increasing scores of ambivalent-avoidant identity of the individual increases the likelihood of being depressed. It seems that to predict depression attachment styles and individual’s sense of identity should be considered.