How Attachment Styles Influence Emotional Distress and Psychiatric Symptoms Among Individuals With Schizophrenia: A Cross-Sectional Nursing Survey

Abstract

This study highlights the relationship between attachment styles, emotional distress, and psychiatric symptoms in schizophrenia. Participants exhibited avoidant and anxious attachment, linked to heightened emotional distress and severe symptoms. Avoidant attachment was characterized by emotional withdrawal and self-reliance, while anxious attachment involved dependency and relational anxiety. These insecure patterns predicted the severity of psychiatric symptoms, emotional distress, and anxious attachment. The findings emphasize the importance of addressing attachment dynamics in therapeutic nursing for schizophrenia, as these factors may worsen symptoms and emotional challenges. Using attachment-focused approaches can enable mental health nurses to better support symptom management and enhance well-being.