The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in the Relationship between Mother’s Attachment Style and Offspring’s Depression

Abstract

The present study aimed to investigate the mediating role of the offspring’s self-esteem in the association between the mother’s attachment style and the depressive symptoms of a sample of early adolescents. The participants included 484 students, aged 11 to 15 ( M age = 12.24, SD = .91) and their mothers, ranged in age between 30 and 69 years ( M age = 43.82, SD = 5.13). The students completed the Multidimensional Self-Concept Scale and the Self‐administered Psychiatric Scales for adolescents - Depression. Mothers completed the Attachment Style Questionnaire. The results showed an association between mothers’ anxious attachment and both self-esteem and depression of our young adolescents. Furthermore, adolescents’ self- esteem mediated the association between mothers’ anxious attachment and adolescents’ depression. The mediating role of self-esteem was not significant in the relationship between mothers’ avoidant attachment and adolescents’ depression.