Identifying Pattern of Relationships between Attachment Styles, Life Satisfaction and Perfectionism in University Students

Abstract

Background: Life satisfaction is a subjective and unique concept to every human being which constitutes an essential component of subjective well-being. Objectives: The purpose of the present study was identifying the pattern of relationship between attachment styles, life satisfaction and perfectionism in university students. Methods: The statistical society included all students of Azad university of Roodehen who were studying at this university in 2014 15 academic year. The sample size was 271 undergraduate students who were selected by stratification random sampling from all faculties except faculty of education and counseling and also Psychology. The data were collected using life satisfaction scale, collins and reid’s adult attachment styles and terry and short’s positive and negative perfectionism scale. Results: The findings showed that positive and negative perfectionism variables influence on explanation of life satisfaction changes. Anxious attachment through negative perfectionism influences directly and indirectly on explanation of life satisfaction changes. Also avoidant attachment through positive and negative perfectionism influences directly and indirectly on explanation of life satisfaction changes. However, secure attachment neither directly nor indirectly influences on explanation of life satisfaction changes. Conclusions: The results of this study have several important implications for counselors who work with perfectionism. Counselors should consider perfectionism as a multidimensional construct with both healthy and unhealthy dimensions rather than as only problematic construct.