Predicting Paranoid Thoughts Based on Attachment Styles Mediated by Experiential Avoidance in Women with Postpartum Depression

Depression is one of the most common postpartum disorders. Also, women with postpartum depression have problems with emotional regulation. The aim of this study was to predict paranoid thoughts based on attachment styles mediated by experimental avoidance in women with postpartum depression in 2019.

The research method was descriptive-correlational and the statistical population of this study included all women with a diagnosis of postpartum depression who referred to health centers in Tehran province in 2019, from which 250 people were selected by convenience sampling. Data were collected using demographic questionnaire, “Beck Depression Inventory”, “Revised Adult Attachment Scale”, the “Multidimensional Experimental Avoidance Questionnaire”, and the “Paranoid Scale”. The validity of the instruments was confirmed using construct validity by confirmatory factor analysis method and the reliability by internal consistency method was confirmed by calculating Cronbachchr('39')s alpha coefficient. The data were analyzed in SPSS. 26 and Amos .26.

The Model of Structural Equations using statistical indices showed secure attachment style (β= -0.223, P≥0.05), attachment style Ambiguous/anxious (β=0.506, P≥0.05), avoidant attachment style (β= 0.212, P≥0.01) has a significant relationship with experimental avoidance.  Also, the direct coefficients of experimental avoidance for paranoid thoughts (β=0.445, P≥0.01) are significant. Also, the results of indirect path coefficients between secure attachment style (β=0.099, P=0.001), anxious- ambivalent attachment style (β=0.225, P=0.001) and avoidance attachment style (β=0.094, P≥0.001) is meaningful with paranoid thoughts.

Experimental avoidance is a mediating variable in the relationship between attachment styles and paranoid thoughts in women with postpartum depression. Thus, an anxious- ambivalent attachment style to perceived threat in disturbing situations along with a negative view of oneself leads to the experience of anger, experimental avoidance, and consequently the experience of paranoid thoughts. It is recommended that psychological interventions be used to reduce postpartum depression.