Title: The effects of attachment styles and belongingness on life satisfaction among adolescents

Authors: Özkan Çikrikçi; Başaran Gençdoğan

Addresses: Education School, Department of Educational Sciences, Division of Psychological Counseling and Guidance, Ordu University, Turkey ' Faculty of Education, Department of Educational Sciences, Division of Psychological Counseling and Guidance Atatürk University Kazım Karabekir, Turkey

Abstract: The aim of present study was to investigate the correlations between attachment styles, belongingness and satisfaction with life in adolescents. Within the scope of the research an explanatory model for life satisfaction of adolescents was tested. An attachment style scale, general belongingness scale and life satisfaction scale was administered to 263 high school students aged from 14 to 18 years (M = 16.22, SD = 0.86). The results of correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between secure attachment style, belongingness and life satisfaction. The model developed to explain life satisfaction among adolescents was analysed with structural equation modelling. According to the results, secure attachment style directly affects belongingness and indirectly affects life satisfaction. Additionally belongingness directly affects life satisfaction. Generally, it may be stated that secure attachment style and perception of belonging are each significant variables affecting life satisfaction of adolescents.

Keywords: life satisfaction; attachment; belongingness; adolescents; structural equation modelling; path analysis; secure attachment; dismissive attachment; preoccupied attachment; fearful attachment.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHD.2017.084073

International Journal of Happiness and Development, 2017 Vol.3 No.3, pp.241 - 255

Received: 20 Sep 2016
Accepted: 09 Oct 2016
Published online: 09 May 2017 *

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