A comparison of coping strategies and self-esteem levels with attachment styles of couples

This study aims to compare coping strategies and self esteem of couples with different attachment styles. Correlational screening model in descriptive method is applied to this study. The sample of the study includes 422 students (216 female, 206 male) from Çukurova University (ADANA) and Mustafa Kemal Üniversitesi (HATAY) which are studying currently or attending post graduate programs. The data for the study were collected in fall term of 2016-2017 academic year. 'Attachment in Couples Scale' which was adapted by Çolakkadıoğlu, Akbaş and Yıldızeli (2016) was used to decide attachment styles; 'Ways of Coping With Stress Scale' which was adapted by Sahin and Durak (1995) was used to measure students' coping strategies; "Coopersmith Self Esteem Scale" was adapted by Turan and Tufan (1987) to measure students' self -esteem levels. Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient was used to determine correlation coefficient among , coping strategies and self-esteem. One-way MANOVA was utilized to determine if there is any difference among , coping strategies and self-esteem levels of secure and insecure (anxious, avoidant, anxious-avoidant) attached couples . The results of Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient revealed that there is a positive correlation between self-esteem and three of coping strategies: self confidence approach , optimistic approach and seeking social support approach. There was a negative correlation between self-esteem and two of coping strategies: helpless approach and submissive approach. The results of One-Way MANOVA revealed that coping strategies differs significantly in terms of attachment styles in couples which are secure and insecure (anxious, avoidant, anxious-avoidant). Results show that secure attached individuals adopt more self confidence approach, optimistic approach and seeking social support approach; Couples which have an insecure attachment style (anxious, avoidant, anxious-avoidant) adopt more helpless approach and submissive approach. It is found that self-esteem differs significantly in terms of attachment styles (secure, anxious, avoidant, anxious-avoidant) The results show that secure attached individuals have more self-esteem rather than insecure (anxious, avoidant, anxious-avoidant) attached individuals. As a conclusion, couples which are secure attached have high level self-esteem and using problem focused strategies (effective) for coping with stress; on the other hand insecure attached couples have emotion focused strategies (ineffective) for coping with stress and they have low level of self-esteem. Keywords: attachment styles, attachment steyles in couples, coping with stress, self-esteem