The relationship between attachment styles and internalizing/externalizing problems: the mediating role of self-criticism

Objectives. Many recent studies have explored the potential links between attachmentstyle dimensions, personality vulnerability factors for psychopathology, andpsychological and be-havioral problems, particularly those along the internalizing andexternalizing spectrum. However, previous studies have not examined these linkswithin a structural equation model that can examine multiple predictors and outcomes,and therefore have not fully investigated the specificity of links between these factors.This cross-sectional study examined the mediat-ing role of self-criticism in therelationship between attachment style dimensions and interna-lizing and externalizingproblems.Method. The sample included 420 nonclinical adolescents aged 14-20 years who werere-cruited in school settings and completed self-reported measures of attachment styledimen-sions (Attachment Style Questionnaire), self-criticism (Depressive ExperiencesQuestion-naire), and internalizing and externalizing problems (Youth Self-Report).Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed mediation model and toascertain direct and indirect effects among study variables.Results. Results shown that self-criticism mediated the link between both attachmentavoidance and anxiety, and internalizing problems. Results were not moderated bygender.Conclusions. Results suggest that self-criticism is associated with psychopathologyduring adolescence, and accounts for the assoc