Relationship of Late Adolescent’s Attachment Styles with Suicidal Ideation and Resilience

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of late adolescent‟s attachment styles with suicidal ideation and resilience. These variables have been examined in various social sectors in Pakistan; the relationship of these variables in educational setting was missing in the literature. A sample of 200 respondents was collected. Age range of the sample was from 17 to 20 years. All were undergraduate students. Three scales were used in the study; Adult Attachment Scale (Collins & Read, 1990), Beck Scale of Suicidal Ideation (Beck & Weismann, 1979), and Connor Davidson Resilience Scale (Connor & Davidson, 2003). Differences on the basis of demographic variables such as gender, socioeconomic status and age were also studied. Data was analyzed through SPSS using Correlation, t-test, Regression and Mediation. The findings suggest that there is positive significant correlation between adolescent‟s insecure attachment styles and suicidal ideation, both anxious attachment style and avoidant attachment style can cause suicidal ideation, female show more anxious attachment style whereas both gender are at equal verge of having suicidal ideation but the resilience level is higher in male then female, male reflect more secure attachment style as compared to the female. Attachment styles are an important predictor of suicidal ideation. Counseling and therapeutic interventions may help to increase the stress coping skills and to reduce suicidal ideation in the late adolescents.