Attachment Styles and Coping with Stress

we examined the relationship between attachment styles (secure, avoidant, and ambivalent) and three strategies of coping with stress (problem-focused, positive emotion-focused, and negative emotion-focused). The Adult Attachment Inventory (Besharat, 2005; Hazan & Shaver, 1987) and the Tehran Coping Styles Scale (Besharat 2005; Carver, Shearer, & Winthrop, 1989) were completed by 120 female and 103 male Iranian students. The results revealed a statistically reliable relationship between attachment styles and coping strategies. Secure attachment style was positively correlated with problem-focused and positive emotion-focused coping styles, and negatively associated with negative emotion-focused co- ping style. Avoidant attachment style was positively cor- related with problem-focused and negative emotion-foc- used coping styles. Ambivalent attachment style was posi- tively correlated with positive emotion-focused coping style. We concluded that coping strategies are influenced by attachment styles.