Abstract
This study sought to investigate the predictive relationship that dimensions of attachment shared with an array of indicators of psychosocial well-being and mental health in a sample of students making the transition to higher education. One hundred and thirty-one students completed the Vulnerable Attachment Styles Questionnaire (VASQ) prior to enrolment in their first semester of university education. Subsequently, the students completed measures related to perceived loneliness, institutional integration, psychological need satisfaction, depressive symptoms and ways of coping during their first semester. Results suggested that higher scores in relation to the insecurity dimension of the VASQ were instrumental in predicting negative psychosocial well-being and mental health. The results discussed the key vulnerability dimensions of attachment when seeking to predict indices of psychosocial well-being and mental health.
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Dr Sam Carr is a lecturer in the Department of Education, University of Bath UK.
Current themes of research:
His research focuses upon the importance of attachment relationships through adolescence and into early adulthood
Most relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:
Carr, S., & Landau, S. (2012). Consciously identified attachment hierarchies: cognitive accessibility of attachment figure names as a function of threat primes in a lexical decision task. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 53, 17–25.
Carr, S., & Fitzpatrick, N. (2011). Experiences of sport friendship as a function of self and partner attachment characteristics. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 12, 383–391.
Carr, S. (2009). Adolescent-parent attachment characteristics and quality of youth sport friendship. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 10, 653–661.
Kate Colthurst is an undergraduate student in the Department of Education at the University of Bath. She recently completed a year long placement as Dr Carr's research assistant.
Current themes of research:
Explore the social and psychological aspects of sport and society.
Most relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:
Colthurst, K., & Carr, S. (2011). Attachment characteristics as predictors of longitudinal trends in mental wellbeing during the transition to higher education. Paper presented at the annual conference for the British Educational Research Association, London, UK.
Melissa Coyle is a lecturer in the Faculty of Sport, Media, and Creative Arts at the University College Plymouth Marjon.
Current themes of research:
Her research interests centre around psychological aspects of sport, health, and wellbeing.
David Elliott is a lecturer at the University of Cumbria. He is currently working towards his PhD where he is studying music as a means to alleviate anxiety.
Current themes of research:
His work has primarily focused on the use of music as a motivational aid, teaching strategies, and fitness training.
Most relevant publications in the field of Psychology of Education:
Elliott, D., Carr, S., & Orme, D. (2005). The influence of motivational music on sub-maximal exercise. European Journal of Sports Science, 2, 97–106.
Elliott, D., Carr, S., & Savage, D. (2004). The effects of motivational music during submaximal exercise performance. Journal of Sport Behavior, 27, 134–1478
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Carr, S., Colthurst, K., Coyle, M. et al. Attachment dimensions as predictors of mental health and psychosocial well-being in the transition to university. Eur J Psychol Educ 28, 157–172 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-012-0106-9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10212-012-0106-9