Predicting interpersonal problems based on the attachment styles regarding the meditating role of self-compassion in couples in Tehran

Interpersonal problems are the result of the people’s attachment history. In the attachment theory, humans have been designed to aim for basic relationship needs needed for forming a strong bond with an attachment subject that provides security, intimacy and support. Earlier studies show that different interpersonal problems adapt with different attachment styles. The aim of this study is to investigate the interpersonal problems of people based on their attachment styles regarding the moderating role of compassion in couples. Therefore, as a descriptive correlational study, 200 couples were chosen from Tehran through convenient sampling and their attachment styles, self-compassion, and interpersonal problems were evaluated. The results of the regression analysis demonstrated that self-compassion played as a mediator in the relationships between anxious attachment and interpersonal problems and also secure attachment and interpersonal problems. All three variables of attachment style have a linear relationship with interpersonal problems and self-compassion. What’s more, the non-standard beta coefficient for these variables show that the anxious attachment variable weighs more than the rest of the variables. In other words, it can be said that 41% of the changes in the interpersonal problems variable and 61% of them in the self-compassion variable are predicted by this very variable. The result of this study supports the mediating role of compassion amongst attachment styles and the amount of personal problems.