زهرا کوه در

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of psychological resilience in the relationship between attachment styles and adolescents’ internalizing problems. The statistical population consisted of all female students aged ۱۲–۱۸ years in Tehran during the ۲۰۲۳–۲۰۲۴ academic year, from which ۳۰۰ participants were selected through convenience sampling. The research instruments included the Adult Attachment Scale (AAS) by Collins and Read (۱۹۹۶), the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) by Connor and Davidson (۲۰۰۳), and the Internalizing Problems Scale by Achenbach and Edelbrock (۱۹۹۱). Data were analyzed using the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) approach through AMOS software.

The results revealed that the secure attachment style had a significant negative relationship with internalizing problems, while the avoidant and anxious attachment styles had significant positive relationships with these problems. Moreover, secure attachment was positively and significantly associated with psychological resilience, whereas avoidant and anxious attachment styles were negatively associated with resilience. In addition, psychological resilience showed a significant negative relationship with adolescents’ internalizing problems. The SEM results further demonstrated that psychological resilience played a significant mediating role in the relationship between attachment styles and internalizing problems among adolescents. The model fit indices (CFI = ۰.۹۲۳, RMSEA = ۰.۰۶۳) indicated an excellent fit for the proposed structural model.

In conclusion, secure attachment and psychological resilience serve as protective factors, while avoidant and anxious attachment styles act as risk factors in the development of adolescents’ internalizing problems. Therefore, strengthening secure parent–child bonds and implementing resilience-based training programs in schools can contribute to promoting adolescents’ mental health.

Keywords: Attachment styles, psychological resilience, internalizing problems, adolescents, Structural Equation Modeling (SEM), Collins and Read, Connor and Davidson, Achenbach and Edelbrock.