Beyond correlation: How attachment insecurities fuel social anxiety through perfectionism in young adults

Manuscript
Published: Ιουλ 24, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12681/psy_hps.44026
Keywords:
attachment, perfectionism, sex differences, social anxiety, social avoidance
Maia Berta Rodrigues
Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Faculty of Philosophy and Social Sciences
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6640-6033
Mariana Marques
University of Coimbra, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7856-280X
Helena Moreira
University of Coimbra, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
Frederica Carvalho
Psintonia, Consultório de Psicologia, Mindfulness e Formação
Ângela Leite
University of Coimbra, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0560-1756
Abstract

This study examined how attachment anxiety and avoidance are indirectly associated with social anxiety and social avoidance through multidimensional perfectionism in young adults. A sample of 230 Portuguese university students (18–25 years) completed validated measures of attachment (ECR‑RS), perfectionism (MPCS), and social anxiety/avoidance (SIPAAS). Using parallel multiple mediation models (PROCESS Model 4) with 5,000 bias‑corrected bootstrap samples, we tested indirect associations at both the dimension level (eight perfectionism subscales) and the composite factor level (Evaluative Concerns, Positive Striving). Controlling for age and sex, both attachment dimensions showed significant indirect associations with social distress/anxiety and social avoidance primarily through maladaptive perfectionism dimensions, including Doubts about Actions and Socially Prescribed Perfectionism. At the factor level, Evaluative Concerns was a significant mediator for both attachment dimensions, whereas Positive Striving was indirectly associated only with the link between attachment anxiety and social avoidance. Women reported higher levels of social anxiety and were more likely to exceed the SIPAAS screening cut‑offs. These findings highlight specific perfectionism dimensions that may help explain how attachment insecurities relate to social anxiety symptoms in young adults, while acknowledging that the cross‑sectional design precludes causal inference.

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