Abstract

This study examined the mediating role of basic psychological needs satisfaction in the relationship between
attachment anxiety and depressive symptoms in university students. The following measurement instruments
were used to collect the data: Center for Epidemiologic Studies—Depression Scale, Experiences in Close
Relationships Scale and Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction General—Scale. Mediated effects were explored
using a series of regression analyses and were further confirmed through bootstrapping procedures. Results
revealed that basic psychological needs satisfaction partially mediated the relationship between attachment
anxiety and depression. These results indicated that attachment anxiety was connected with depressive
symptoms in more complicated ways than had traditionally been suggested. Implications of the findings
targeting basic psychological needs satisfaction in anxiously attached university students with higher levels of
depressive symptoms for clinical practice are discussed.

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