TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2019//
TI  - The moderation of attachment in the association between depressive symptoms and self-harm among a clinical sample
JO  - Journal of mental health
A1  - Shenkman, Geva
A1  - Pardo Aviv, Lee
A1  - Hain, Dora
A1  - Goren, Omer
A1  - Shapira, Shai
A1  - Nakash, Ora
A1  - Brunstein Klomek, Anat
A1  - Berant, Ety
SP  - 1
EP  - 8
VL  - ePub
IS  - ePub
N2  - <b>Background:</b> Self-harm is a severe health problem worldwide and in particular in clinical settings. The association of depression and self-harm has been extensively studied alongside various variables that have been examined as moderating this association. However, no previous study has examined the moderating role of attachment in this association. <b>Aim:</b> We explored the role of attachment orientation in moderating the association between depressive symptoms and self-harm among a sample of patients in a community mental health clinic. <b>Method:</b> This study was a de-identified archival study of patients' medical charts, and used a convenience sample of 199 patients, which completed self-report measures following the initial intake appointment as part of clinic procedures. <b>Results:</b> Findings showed that both attachment anxiety and avoidance moderated the association between depressive symptoms and self-harm, such that depressive symptoms were positively associated with self-harm only when attachment anxiety scores were high, and attachment avoidance scores were high or average. <b>Conclusions:</b> Attachment anxiety and avoidance should be assessed in the initial intake of patients as it has a contribution to understanding self-harm vulnerability among new patients. Future studies should explore this moderation longitudinally so causality could be inferred.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 0963-8237
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/09638237.2019.1630723
ID  - ref1
ER  -