Attachment, coping and life satisfaction amongst tertiary students

The impact of adult attachment style on coping and life satisfaction was assessed for 112 tertiary students. Respondents completed the Brief COPE, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, the Relationship Questionnaire and the Relationships Styles Questionnaire in which they classified themselves into one of four attachment relationship patterns (Secure, Fearful, Dismissing and Preoccupied). Using a one-way between-groups multivariate analysis of variance to investigate attachment style differences in coping strategies, a statistically significant difference was found between attachment styles on the 14 combined coping dependent variables. When coping strategies were considered separately, self-distraction, substance use, behavioural disengagement and self blame differed amongst attachment styles. Preoccupied individuals used distraction, behavioural disengagement and self blame to cope with distress, whereas fearful individuals coped through substance use. Securely attached individuals reported significantly higher levels of life satisfaction, however only compared to the Preoccupied group. Findings are discussed within the framework of attachment theory with reference to implications for professional practice in altering negative views of self and teaching alternative coping strategies to those with preoccupied or fearful attachment to enhance life satisfaction