THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COPING STRATEGIES AND ATTACHMENT STYLES IN ADOLESCENTS

Abstract

The research explores the relationship between coping strategies and attachment styles in adolescents. Participants included 382 12th-grade students from high schools in the north-central region of Bulgaria, with 306 valid protocols analyzed. The participants completed the Coping Strategies Inventory (CSI) and the Experiences in Close Relationships Questionnaire - Revised (ECR-R). Descriptive statistics, correlation analyses, and ANOVA were conducted to examine the associations between different attachment styles and coping strategies. Results indicated that adolescents with secure attachment were more likely to use adaptive coping strategies, such as problem-solving and seeking social support. In contrast, those with insecure attachment styles were more prone to engage in maladaptive coping mechanisms, including wishful thinking and social withdrawal. Specifically, attachment-related anxiety was linked to higher use of emotion-focused coping, while attachment-related avoidance was associated with distancing and self-reliant coping strategies. Significant correlations were found between attachment styles and coping strategies, suggesting that insecure attachment is associated with less effective coping. ANOVA results revealed that normal levels of anxiety were associated with higher scores in problem-solving and emotional expression, while upper-normal levels of avoidance correlated with lower adaptive coping and higher maladaptive coping strategies.