Attachment and psychosocial functioning of depressed, remitted depressed, and nondepressed women and their partners

A vulnerability model of depression based on attachment theory was presented. It was proposed that people\u27s early experiences with caregivers determine the nature of their mental models of the self and relationships. When early relationship experiences are negative, people develop a model of the self as unworthy of love and a model of attachment figures as unreliable. These negative self- and relationship schemas consequently make such persons vulnerable to depression and contribute to poor adjustment in romantic relationships. Two studies were conducted to explore the link among quality of relationship with parents, self- and relationship schemas, depression, and relationship functioning. The first study compared depressed and nondepressed college women; the second study compared married women who had recovered from major depression and nondepressed women. Remitted and depressed women reported negative childhood relationships with parents, low self-esteem, insecure attachment styles (preoccupied or fearful), neglectful caregiving, and poor relationship functioning. Depressed and previously depressed women report more negative self- and relationship schemas. Thus, people who have negative relationship experiences with their parents while growing up will develop negative self-schemas and insecure relationship schemas; these in turn increase vulnerability to depression and to problems in romantic relationships. Implications for attachment theory and therapy are discussed