The Mediating Role of Self-Esteem in the Relationship between Romantic Attachment and Quality of Life in Late Adolescence.

Abstract

Abstract The way we attach to others romantically highly influences our possibilities of forming healthy, satisfying relationships. This study explores the mediative role of self-esteem in the relationship between romantic attachment and quality of life in late adolescence. Specifically, it was expected that higher levels of avoidant and anxious attachment would predict lower global self-esteem, in turn predicting a lower quality of life. Moreover, differences between Italian, Dutch, and German participants in such relationships were analyzed. To do so, the Revised Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR-R), the Rosenberg self-esteem scale, the Quality-of-Life Scale (QOL) questionnaire, were administered on a sample of 136 European adolescents, ranging from age 18 to 24. Results showed that, in avoidantly attached participants, self-esteem fully mediated the relationship between attachment and quality of life. For anxiously attachment participants, a partial mediation effect of self-esteem was found. However, when observing Italian, Dutch, and German participants separately, no mediation effect was found.