Relationship between Attachment Styles and Suicidal Tendency with a Moderating Role of Self-criticism and Dependency in Students

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between attachment styles and suicidal tendency with a moderating role of self-criticism and dependency among students. The study method was descriptive-correlational. The statistical population consisted of all undergraduate and postgraduate students of Golestan University (N = 3757), of which 380 were sampled according to the Morgan table by proportional stratified random sampling. The research instruments were Blatt Depressive Experiences Questionnaire, Beck Suicidal Tendencies Questionnaire, and Hazan and Shaver Attachment Styles Questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and structural equation model. The results showed that there is a positive and significant relationship between avoidant style and self-criticism and suicidal tendency and there is a positive and significant relationship between anxiety attachment style and self-critical attachment, and suicidal tendency, but there is a negative relationship between avoidant style and dependency. Also, model fitting indicators confirms the role of mediator of dependency and self-criticism in the relationship between anxiety and avoidance attachment styles with suicidal tendencies. According to the results, avoidant and anxiety attachment styles in negative situations with dependency and self-criticism are suitable components for the rate of suicidal tendency in students.