RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EARLY SEPARATION ANXIETY AND DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS: THE MEDIATING ROLE OF LOCUS OF CONTROL AND PROBLEM SOLVING SKILLS

This study was aimed to determine direct and indirect relationships among early separation anxiety symptoms, locus of control, perceived problem solving skills and depression. For this purpose, the appropriateness of a model including the relationship among these four variables was investigated. The model hypothesized that early separation anxiety symptoms have a direct effect on depression and early separation anxiety has an indirect effect on depression through mediating role of locus of control and problem solving skills. The study was conducted with 215 Turkish university students. Data were collected with Separation Anxiety Symptom Scale (Ceyhan, 2000), Beck Depression Inventory (Hisli, 1988), Rotter’s Internal-External Locus of Control Scale (Dağ,1992), and Heppner and Petersen’s Problem Solving Inventory-Form A (Şahin, Şahin, & Heppner, 1993). For analyses, path analysis was done. Findings indicated that individuals experiencing severe early separation anxiety have external locus of control and perceive themselves as inadequate in terms of problem solving skills. Results further revealed that early separation anxiety does not have a direct relationship with depression, but has a direct relationship with locus of control and problem solving skills, supporting the hypothesis.