The Relationship Between Adult Attachment Styles and Social Anxiety Disorder: The Role of Parental Bonding in Outpatient Adults

Authors : Hasan Gökçay, İrem Yazıcı Karabulut, Kaan Çabuk, Eser Sağaltıcı, Hasan Belli, Ramazan Konkan, Uğur Takım

Pages : 246-254

Doi:10.31067/acusaglik.1531182

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Publication Date : 2025-04-10

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Purpose: This study aimed to explore the connection between attachment styles and social anxiety disorder (SAD) in patients receiving psychiatric outpatient treatment. Methods: The research included 85 participants, comprising 45 individuals diagnosed with SAD and 40 healthy controls. The participants completed assessments on social anxiety, parental bonding, and attachment styles. Results: Participants with SAD showed significantly lower maternal care scores (16.31 ± 2.30) compared to the healthy control group (28.77 ± 6.77, p < .001) and notably lower paternal care scores (16.84 ± 3.14 vs. 25.28 ± 9.28, p < .001). They also exhibited higher avoidant (25.88 ± 7.39 vs. 22.47 ± 6.23, p = .034) and anxious attachment scores (23.65 ± 7.66 vs. 16.80 ± 6.98, p < .001). The Liebowitz Social Phobia Scale scores were positively correlated with avoidant (r = .433, p < .001) and anxious attachment (r = .458, p < .001), while negatively correlated with maternal (r = -.566, p<.001) and paternal care (r=-.384,p<.001). Conclusion: The study demonstrates that insecure attachment styles and inadequate parental care are closely linked to elevated levels of social anxiety. These results underscore the need for considering attachment-based interventions when treating social anxiety disorder.
Keywords : Social anxiety disorder, attachment styles, parental bonding, childhood, adult

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