Copyright (c) 2026 Abdul Manan Haqyar, Esfandyar Haseen; Mohammad Nasir Habibi, Badruddin Nasrat (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Examining the Relationship Between Attachment Styles and Life Satisfaction Among Students of Kabul Education University
Corresponding Author(s) : Abdul Manan Haqyar
Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities,
Vol. 3 No. 2 (2026): April
Abstract
According to attachment theory, early attachment patterns play a crucial role in shaping psychological well-being and individuals’ evaluations of life. The present study aimed to examine the relationship between attachment styles (secure, anxious, and avoidant) and life satisfaction among students at Kabul Education University. This study employed a descriptive-correlational design and included 314 students selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using the Satisfaction with Life Scale developed by Diener et al. and the Attachment Styles Questionnaire by Collins and Read, and were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation coefficient. The results indicated that secure attachment was positively and statistically significantly associated with life satisfaction (r = 0.195, p < 0.01).In contrast, anxious attachment (r = -0.166, p < 0.05) and avoidant attachment (r = -0.07, p = 0.03) demonstrated significant negative relationships with life satisfaction. These findings suggest that attachment patterns play a meaningful role in explaining individual differences in life satisfaction. From an applied perspective, the findings highlight the importance of designing counseling and educational interventions to strengthen secure attachment and enhance students’ psychological well-being. Furthermore, these results can inform the planning and development of psychosocial services within university settings to improve students’ adjustment and overall quality of life.
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- Alemi, Q., Panter-Brick, C., Oriya, S., Ahmady, M., Alimi, A. Q., Faiz, H., ... & Ventevogel, P. (2023). Afghan mental health and psychosocial well-being: thematic review of four decades of research and interventions. BJPsych open, 9(4), e125. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.502
- Arslan, G. (2016). Psychological maltreatment, emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents: The mediating role of resilience and attachment styles. Child Abuse & Neglect, 118, 105168.
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105168
- Blake, A., Smith, J., & Brown, K. (2024). Attachment security and life satisfaction among university students: The mediating role of emotional regulation. Journal of Happiness Studies, 25(2), 345–362.
- Blake, J. A., Thomas, H. J., Pelecanos, A. M., Najman, J. M., & Scott, J. G. (2024). Attachment in young adults and life satisfaction at age 30: A birth cohort study. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 19, 1549-1568. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-024-10297-x
- Civitci, A. (2015). Perceived stress and life satisfaction in college students: The mediating role of attachment styles. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 15(4), 915-924. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.09.077
- Deniz, M. E., & Özbay, Y. (2010). Emotional intelligence and life satisfaction: The role of attachment styles. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 10(2), 1203–1213.
- Deniz, M. E., & Yıldırım Kurtuluş, K. (2023). Attachment styles and life satisfaction across age groups. Journal of Adult Development Studies.
- Deniz, M. E., & Yıldırım Kurtuluş, S. (2023). Attachment styles and life satisfaction among university students: The mediating role of interpersonal competence. Current Psychology, 42(6), 4651-4662.
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02644-8
- Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75.
- https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
- Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Tay, L. (2018). Advances in subjective well-being research. Nature Human Behaviour, 2(4), 253-260.
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-018-0307-6
- Eggerman, M., & Panter-Brick, C. (2010). Suffering, hope, and entrapment: Resilience and cultural values in Afghanistan. Social science & medicine, 71(1), 71-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.03.023
- Goodall, K. (2015). Individual differences in the regulation of positive emotion: The role of attachment and self-esteem. Personality and Individual Differences, 74, 208-213.
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.10.033
- Green, Z. A., Faizi, F., Jalal, R., & Zadran, Z. (2022). Emotional support received moderates academic stress and mental well-being in a sample of Afghan university students amid COVID-19. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 68(8), 1748-1755. https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640211057729
- Hao, S., & Xu, H. (2024). Parental attachment and subjective well-being in vocational college students: Mediating roles for resilience and self-esteem. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 34(2), 184-191.
- https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2024.2340921
- Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. R. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511-524.
- https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.52.3.511
- İlhan, T., & Özbay, Y. (2010). Life satisfaction and attachment styles among university students. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 5, 231-236.
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.07.069
- Ilhan, T., & Ozbay, Y. (2010). The predictive role of attachment styles on subjective well-being. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 10(2), 787-819.
- Karreman, A., & Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M. (2012). Attachment and well-being: The mediating role of emotion regulation and social support. Personality and Individual Differences, 53(7), 821-826.
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2012.06.014.
- Mašková, I. (2023). Adult attachment and subjective well-being: The role of social relationships. Journal of Adult Development, 30(2), 119-129.
- https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-022-09415-3
- Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2016). Attachment in adulthood: Structure, dynamics, and change (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
- Miller, K. E., Rasmussen, A., Warraich, H., & Hussain, S. (2018). Life satisfaction, family relationships, and mental health among Afghan young adults. Intervention, 16(1), 14-23.
- Monin, J. K., Clark, M. S., Lemay, E. P., Jr., & Overall, N. C. (2019). Attachment anxiety and well-being: The mediating role of relationship processes. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(9), 2591-2612. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407518791380
- Monin, J. K., Schulz, R., & Kwan, L. Y. (2019). Attachment and life satisfaction: Interpersonal and intrapersonal pathways. Aging & Mental Health, 23(5), 603-610. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2018.1434543
- Murdock, N. L., & Gore, P. A. Jr. (2004). Adult attachment, self-esteem, and the processing of social information. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 21(2), 207-228. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407504041382
- Panter-Brick, C., Goodman, A., Tol, W., & Eggerman, M. (2011). Mental health and childhood adversities: A longitudinal study in Afghanistan. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 50(4), 349-363.
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2010.12.001
- Parpottas P, Vogazianos P, Pezirkianidis C. Attachment, Resilience and Life Satisfaction of University Students in Cyprus after the Fourth Wave of COVID-19. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Dec 22;21(1):22. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21010022. PMID: 38248487; PMCID: PMC10815057 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010022
- Parpottas, P., Vogazianos, P., & Pezirkianidis, C. (2024). Attachment, resilience and life satisfaction of university students in Cyprus after the fourth wave of COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(1), Article 22.
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010022
- Pidgeon, A. M., Rowe, N. F., Stapleton, P., Magyar, H. B., & Lo, B. C. Y. (2014). Examining characteristics of resilience among university students. Australian Psychologist, 49(4), 249-259.
- https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12086.
- Soby, A. (2024). Exploring the link between attachment styles, marital satisfaction, and subjective well-being in young adults. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 12(4), 779-792.
- https://doi.org/10.25215/1204.070
- Suldo, S. M., Shaunessy-Dedrick, E., & Ferron, J. (2016). Patterns of adolescent life satisfaction and mental health symptoms. Adolescence and Quality of Life Research.
- Sullanmaa, J., Tikkanen, L., Ulmanen, S., & Pyhältö, K. (2025). Life satisfaction, relatedness, and study engagement in the upper secondary school transition: The function of social support. Social Psychology of Education, 28, 128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-025-10081-1
- Tepeli Temiz, Z., & Comert, I. T. (2018). The relationship between life satisfaction, attachment styles, and psychological resilience in university students. Düşünen Adam: Journal of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences, 31(3), 274-283.
- Yıldırım, M., & Körtülüs, T. (2023). Attachment styles and life satisfaction among university students: The mediating role of resilience and hope. Current Psychology, 42, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03358-3
References
Alemi, Q., Panter-Brick, C., Oriya, S., Ahmady, M., Alimi, A. Q., Faiz, H., ... & Ventevogel, P. (2023). Afghan mental health and psychosocial well-being: thematic review of four decades of research and interventions. BJPsych open, 9(4), e125. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjo.2023.502
Arslan, G. (2016). Psychological maltreatment, emotional and behavioral problems in adolescents: The mediating role of resilience and attachment styles. Child Abuse & Neglect, 118, 105168.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105168
Blake, A., Smith, J., & Brown, K. (2024). Attachment security and life satisfaction among university students: The mediating role of emotional regulation. Journal of Happiness Studies, 25(2), 345–362.
Blake, J. A., Thomas, H. J., Pelecanos, A. M., Najman, J. M., & Scott, J. G. (2024). Attachment in young adults and life satisfaction at age 30: A birth cohort study. Applied Research in Quality of Life, 19, 1549-1568. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11482-024-10297-x
Civitci, A. (2015). Perceived stress and life satisfaction in college students: The mediating role of attachment styles. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 15(4), 915-924. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.09.077
Deniz, M. E., & Özbay, Y. (2010). Emotional intelligence and life satisfaction: The role of attachment styles. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 10(2), 1203–1213.
Deniz, M. E., & Yıldırım Kurtuluş, K. (2023). Attachment styles and life satisfaction across age groups. Journal of Adult Development Studies.
Deniz, M. E., & Yıldırım Kurtuluş, S. (2023). Attachment styles and life satisfaction among university students: The mediating role of interpersonal competence. Current Psychology, 42(6), 4651-4662.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02644-8
Diener, E., Emmons, R. A., Larsen, R. J., & Griffin, S. (1985). The Satisfaction With Life Scale. Journal of Personality Assessment, 49(1), 71-75.
https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327752jpa4901_13
Diener, E., Oishi, S., & Tay, L. (2018). Advances in subjective well-being research. Nature Human Behaviour, 2(4), 253-260.
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-018-0307-6
Eggerman, M., & Panter-Brick, C. (2010). Suffering, hope, and entrapment: Resilience and cultural values in Afghanistan. Social science & medicine, 71(1), 71-83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.03.023
Goodall, K. (2015). Individual differences in the regulation of positive emotion: The role of attachment and self-esteem. Personality and Individual Differences, 74, 208-213.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2014.10.033
Green, Z. A., Faizi, F., Jalal, R., & Zadran, Z. (2022). Emotional support received moderates academic stress and mental well-being in a sample of Afghan university students amid COVID-19. International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 68(8), 1748-1755. https://doi.org/10.1177/00207640211057729
Hao, S., & Xu, H. (2024). Parental attachment and subjective well-being in vocational college students: Mediating roles for resilience and self-esteem. Journal of Psychology in Africa, 34(2), 184-191.
https://doi.org/10.1080/14330237.2024.2340921
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. R. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511-524.
https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.52.3.511
İlhan, T., & Özbay, Y. (2010). Life satisfaction and attachment styles among university students. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 5, 231-236.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.07.069
Ilhan, T., & Ozbay, Y. (2010). The predictive role of attachment styles on subjective well-being. Educational Sciences: Theory & Practice, 10(2), 787-819.
Karreman, A., & Vingerhoets, A. J. J. M. (2012). Attachment and well-being: The mediating role of emotion regulation and social support. Personality and Individual Differences, 53(7), 821-826.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2012.06.014.
Mašková, I. (2023). Adult attachment and subjective well-being: The role of social relationships. Journal of Adult Development, 30(2), 119-129.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10804-022-09415-3
Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2016). Attachment in adulthood: Structure, dynamics, and change (2nd ed.). Guilford Press.
Miller, K. E., Rasmussen, A., Warraich, H., & Hussain, S. (2018). Life satisfaction, family relationships, and mental health among Afghan young adults. Intervention, 16(1), 14-23.
Monin, J. K., Clark, M. S., Lemay, E. P., Jr., & Overall, N. C. (2019). Attachment anxiety and well-being: The mediating role of relationship processes. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 36(9), 2591-2612. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407518791380
Monin, J. K., Schulz, R., & Kwan, L. Y. (2019). Attachment and life satisfaction: Interpersonal and intrapersonal pathways. Aging & Mental Health, 23(5), 603-610. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2018.1434543
Murdock, N. L., & Gore, P. A. Jr. (2004). Adult attachment, self-esteem, and the processing of social information. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 21(2), 207-228. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407504041382
Panter-Brick, C., Goodman, A., Tol, W., & Eggerman, M. (2011). Mental health and childhood adversities: A longitudinal study in Afghanistan. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 50(4), 349-363.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaac.2010.12.001
Parpottas P, Vogazianos P, Pezirkianidis C. Attachment, Resilience and Life Satisfaction of University Students in Cyprus after the Fourth Wave of COVID-19. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2023 Dec 22;21(1):22. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21010022. PMID: 38248487; PMCID: PMC10815057 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010022
Parpottas, P., Vogazianos, P., & Pezirkianidis, C. (2024). Attachment, resilience and life satisfaction of university students in Cyprus after the fourth wave of COVID-19. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(1), Article 22.
https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph21010022
Pidgeon, A. M., Rowe, N. F., Stapleton, P., Magyar, H. B., & Lo, B. C. Y. (2014). Examining characteristics of resilience among university students. Australian Psychologist, 49(4), 249-259.
https://doi.org/10.1111/ap.12086.
Soby, A. (2024). Exploring the link between attachment styles, marital satisfaction, and subjective well-being in young adults. International Journal of Indian Psychology, 12(4), 779-792.
https://doi.org/10.25215/1204.070
Suldo, S. M., Shaunessy-Dedrick, E., & Ferron, J. (2016). Patterns of adolescent life satisfaction and mental health symptoms. Adolescence and Quality of Life Research.
Sullanmaa, J., Tikkanen, L., Ulmanen, S., & Pyhältö, K. (2025). Life satisfaction, relatedness, and study engagement in the upper secondary school transition: The function of social support. Social Psychology of Education, 28, 128. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-025-10081-1
Tepeli Temiz, Z., & Comert, I. T. (2018). The relationship between life satisfaction, attachment styles, and psychological resilience in university students. Düşünen Adam: Journal of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences, 31(3), 274-283.
Yıldırım, M., & Körtülüs, T. (2023). Attachment styles and life satisfaction among university students: The mediating role of resilience and hope. Current Psychology, 42, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-03358-3
Accepted 2026-04-26
Published 2026-04-30