Schlecht, Tori (2022) Insecure Attachment and Social Problem-Solving: The Mediating Effect of Rumination. Honours thesis, University of Southern Queensland. (Unpublished)
Abstract
Dysfunctional social problem-solving is associated with poor mental health outcomes, highlighting the importance of understanding its contributing factors. Existing research stipulates that insecure attachment is related to dysfunctional social problem-solving and suggests maladaptive cognitions could mediate the relationship between insecure attachment and social problem-solving. Rumination is a maladaptive cognitive process and is related to insecure attachment and social problem-solving. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the relationship between insecure attachment, rumination, and social problem-solving, as well as examine rumination as a possible mediator in the relationship between insecure attachment and social problem-solving. This study’s sample included 377 participants aged 18 to 66 years and above from the general Australian population. Participants responded to a single online survey comprising demographic questions and three psychometrically valid and reliable measures: the Experiences in Close Relationships Revised (Fraley et al., 2000), the Social Problem-Solving Inventory-Revised Short Form (D’Zurilla et al., 2002), and the Perseverative Thinking Questionnaire (Ehring et al., 2011). All hypotheses were supported: insecure attachment was significantly and negatively related to social problem-solving, r(375) = -.45, p < .01; insecure attachment was significantly and positively related to rumination, r(375) = .57, p < .01; rumination was significantly and negatively related to social problem-solving, r(375) = -.52, p < .01; and rumination partially mediated the relationship between insecure attachment and social problem-solving, b = -0.02, 95% BCa CI [-0.02, -0.01]. These findings provide implications for psychological practice, suggesting psychological therapies targeting rumination could improve social problem-solving.
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| Item Type: | Thesis (Non-Research) (Honours) |
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| Item Status: | Live Archive |
| Additional Information: | Current UniSQ staff and students can request access to this thesis. Please email research.repository@unisq.edu.au with a subject line of SEAR thesis request and provide: Name of the thesis requested and Your name and UniSQ email address |
| Faculty/School / Institute/Centre: | Current – Faculty of Health, Engineering and Sciences - School of Psychology and Wellbeing (1 Jan 2022 -) |
| Supervisors: | Zahra Izadikhah |
| Qualification: | Bachelor of Science (Honours) |
| Date Deposited: | 06 Aug 2025 02:55 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Aug 2025 02:55 |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Insecure Attachment; Social Problem-Solving; Rumination |
| Fields of Research (2008): | 17 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 1799 Other Psychology and Cognitive Sciences > 179999 Psychology and Cognitive Sciences not elsewhere classified |
| Fields of Research (2020): | 52 PSYCHOLOGY > 5299 Other psychology > 529999 Other psychology not elsewhere classified |
| URI: | https://sear.unisq.edu.au/id/eprint/52734 |
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