This master's thesis explores the relationship between self-esteem and adult attachment styles in young adult men. The theoretical part presents the key concepts of both psychological constructs. It explains the complexity of self-esteem as a subjective assessment of one’s own value, its development in early childhood, and the role of attachment in this process. The attachment theory, based on Bowlby’s internal working models, is outlined, with special emphasis on the importance of secure attachment for high-quality relationships and emotional regulation in adulthood.
The empirical part consists of a quantitative study conducted using a questionnaire on a sample of 311 young adult men. The analysis examined the associations between levels of self-esteem and adult attachment styles. The results indicate statistically significant differences in self-esteem across different attachment styles. Specifically, young adult men with a secure attachment style reported significantly higher levels of self-esteem compared to those with preoccupied, fearful-avoidant, or dismissive-avoidant attachment styles.
The thesis provides a comprehensive theoretical and methodological framework and highlights the importance of integrating these two psychological constructs in future research. It proposes broadening the sample and including additional methods, such as qualitative approaches, to further explore and confirm the findings across different populations.
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