Objective.

To determine whether there is a relationship between attachment styles, anxiety and depression in adults with the presence of chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs).

Materials and methods.

A case-control study was conducted in Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico with a non-probabilistic sample of 3,684 adults. People with a previously diagnosed non-communicable chronic disease (n = 464) were identified as cases, and the control subjects were apparently healthy (n = 3,220). The Cartes: Modéles Individuels de Relation (CAMIR), the Beck-II Depression Inventory and the Beck's Anxiety inventory were used.

Results.

Subjects with CNCDs are older and less-schooled than those without CNCDs. In a similar way, their scores on preoccupied attachment, rejection attachment, anxiety and depression are greater. Positive correlations were found between insecure attachments (preoccupied and rejection) and anxiety and depression, while with the secure attachment correlations were negative. Rejection attachment, anxiety, and age were identified as factors associated with chronic non-communicable diseases.

Conclusion.

Rejection attachment is a risk factor for chronic non-communicable diseases, and since attachment is developed in childhood, there may be implications for prevention.

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