The relationship between attachment styles, self compassion, coping styles and psychological symptoms among university students

In the study, it was aimed to investigate the relationships between attachment styles, selfcompassion, coping styles, and psychological symptoms and to create significant models with mediating effects that address attachment styles, self-compassion, and coping styles together in predicting psychological symptoms. The sample of the study consists of 465 undergraduated students. The data were collected first in the classroom and then online by convenience sampling. Demographic Information Form, Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised, Coping Style Scale and, Brief Symptom Inventory were applied to the participants in order to measure the variables in the study. Pearson's ProductMoment Correlation was conducted to evaluate the relationships between variables of attachment styles, self-compassion, coping styles and psychological symptoms. As a result of these analyses, statistically significant relationships were found between variables. Serial Multiple Mediator Analysis was conducted to test models based on mediating effects. When the results are examined, it was determined that there was a mediating role of self compassion in the relationship between insecure attachment and psychological symptoms. As a second finding, there was a mediating role of the helpless approach in the relationship between anxious attachment and psychological symptoms. As a third finding, self-compassion and the helpless approach play a mediating role together in the relationship between insecure attachment and psychological symptoms. When mediating effects are compared, it was observed that self-compassion has the strongest mediating effect. All these findings of the study were discussed in the light of the literature. Finally, suggestions for future studies were given by referring to the clinical implications and limitations of the study.