Parental Attachment and Satisfaction With Social Life: The Mediating Role of Gelotophobia

Abstract

Background: The aim of the present study was to investigate how gelotophobia is related to secure parental attachment, the degree of satisfaction with social life and coping strategies in a non-clinical sample of young Spanish adults. Method: the sample consisted of 306 young Spanish adults (M= 21.4 years; SD= 2.27; 67.6% women). The relationships between the study variables were analysed and a mediation model was tested in which gelotophobia (M) mediated the relationship between secure parental attachment (IV) and the level of satisfaction with social life (DV). Results: a satisfactory social life was related with low levels of gelotophobia and high levels of secure attachment to the father, as well as with the use of positive coping strategies of control and social support. Secure attachment to the father was positively associated with coping strategies focused on seeking social support and negatively associated with gelotophobia. Conclusions: High levels of secure attachment to the father are related to higher life satisfaction mediated by low levels of gelotophobia.