The attachment styles as the predictors of alexithymia and depression among university students

This study aims to investigate the predictive of university students' attachment styles on alexithymia and depression levels. The second aim is to determine whether there is diversity in alexithymia, depression and attachment style of university students depending on demographics. The research sample constitutes of 150 students studying in state and private universities in Istanbul. In order to measurethe variables in the study, the participantshave been applied Personal Information Form to, the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory (ECR). The research data are analyzed with the methods of frequency, t test for independent groups, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), correlation and regression analysis. As a result of regression analysis conducted in the research, it is found that attachment styles of the university students are the meaningful predictive of alexithymia and depression levels. It is also found that there is a meaningful relationship between university students' alexithymia levels and attachment style. It is found that there is a meaningful relationship between depression levels and attachment style. At the same time, it is found that there is a meaningful relationship between alexithymia levels and depression levels of the university students participated in the research. In this study, it is found that alexithymia and depression levels do not differ by gender, parents' age, education level of parents. While the alexithymia scores do not differ, the depressionscores differ by location where students stay. Furthermore; while there is a meaningful difference on alexithymia levels according to parents of university students living together or separately, there isn't a meaningful difference ondepression levels. Key Words: Attachment Styles, Alexithymia, Depression