Attachment and depression: the relationship between the felt security of attachment and clinical depression among hospitalized female adolescents.

Abstract

Introduction: To examine the attachment construct in terms of felt security, angry distress and perceived unavailability in hospitalized depressed adolescent females.

Method: A case comparison study of 51 adolescent females with depression and 22 adolescent females with other diagnoses was investigated.

Results: In a multivariable logistic regression model, lower selfesteem, lower peer support, greater angry distress and perceived unavailability in interaction with family type increased the likelihood of membership in the depressed group.

Conclusion: Absence of felt security increases the chances of having a diagnosis of depression.