AUTHOR=Costa-Cordella Stefanella , Vivanco-Carlevari Anastassia , Rossi Alejandra , Arévalo-Romero Camilo , Silva Jaime R. 

TITLE=Social Support and Depressive Symptoms in the Context of COVID-19 Lockdown: The Moderating Role of Attachment Styles

JOURNAL=International Journal of Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 67 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.ssph-journal.org/journals/international-journal-of-public-health/articles/10.3389/ijph.2022.1604401

DOI=10.3389/ijph.2022.1604401

ISSN=1661-8564

ABSTRACT=Attachment theory has helped understand the role of human social interactions. Among social interactions, social support is the available support for individuals through social ties with other people. The perceived social support is relevant to health and plays a crucial role in unfolding mood disorders such as depression. However, among people with depression, there is enormous variation. Since attachment styles influence the way individuals experience social support, the present study investigates the moderating role of attachment styles in the relationship between social support and depression in the context of COVID-19 pandemic. 
To clarify the role of attachment styles in the perceived social support and depressive symptoms in the COVID-19 context, 188 participants answered three scales (MOSS, ECR-S, BDI-SF). Our results show that depressive symptoms were lower on securely attached people and those socially supported. Moreover, our findings demonstrate that attachment styles have a vital role in the effect of social support on depressive symptoms. Thus, adding to the current literature by connecting attachment security as an essential factor in our current understanding of relationships and mental health.