Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Intimate Partner Violence and Risk of Psychiatric Symptoms: the Moderating Role of Attachment

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Family Violence Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Numerous studies have examined attachment in intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration, but less is known about adult attachment insecurity relative to victimization. This study’s objective was to evaluate attachment insecurity as a moderator of the association between IPV victimization and risk of psychiatric symptoms. Data come from a subsample (n = 215) of female healthcare workers in a longitudinal study of violence and health. Structural equation modeling was conducted to evaluate the association between IPV victimization and posttraumatic stress and depressive symptoms and to examine IPV exposure and psychiatric outcomes by levels of attachment insecurity. Findings suggest that anxious attachment confers vulnerability to depression following conflict and highlight the importance of attachment security in the context of interventions for interpersonal violence.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abela J. R., Brozina K., & Seligman M. E. (2004). A test of integration of the activation hypothesis and the diathesis-stress component of the hopelessness theory of depression. The British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 43(Pt 2), 111–128. doi:10.1348/014466504323088006.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Abela J. R., & D’Alessandro D. U. (2002). Beck’s cognitive theory of depression: a test of the diathesis-stress and causal mediation components. The British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 41(Pt 2), 111–128.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Andresen, E. M., Malmgren, J. A., Carter, W. B., & Patrick, D. L. (1994). Screening for depression in well older adults: Evaluation of a short form of the CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic Studies– Depression Scale). American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 10, 77–84.

  • Association A. P. (2000). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text rev.). Washington, DC: Author.

    Google Scholar 

  • Aspelmeier, J. E., Elliott, A. N., & Smith, C. H. (2007). Childhood sexual abuse, attachment, and trauma symptoms in college females: the moderating role of attachment. Child Abuse Negl, 31(5), 549–566. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2006.12.002

  • Babcock, J. C., Roseman, A., Green, C. E., & Ross, J. M. (2008). Intimate partner abuse and PTSD symptomatology: examining mediators and moderators of the abuse-trauma link. J Fam Psychol, 22(6), 809–818. doi:10.1037/a0013808

  • Bartholomew K., & Horowitz L. M. (1991). Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four category model. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 61(2), 226–244.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bartholomew, K., & Shaver, P. R. (Eds.). (1998). Methods of assessing adult attachment: Do they converge?. New York, New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bentler, P. M. (1990). Comparative Fit Indexes in Structural Models. Psychological Bulletin, (pp. 107:238–246).

  • Bifulco A., Kwon J., Jacobs C., Moran P. M., Bunn A., & Beer N. (2006). Adult attachment style as mediator between childhood neglect/abuse and adult depression and anxiety. Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology, 41(10), 796–805. doi:10.1007/s00127-006-0101-z.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Black M. C., Basile K. C., Breiding M. J., Smith S. G., Walters M. L., Merrick M. T., et al. (2011). The National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey (NISVS): 2010 Summary Report Atlanta. GA: National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bollen K. A. (1989). Structural equations with latent variables. New York: Wiley.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Bond, S. B., & Bond, M. (2004). Attachment styles and violence within couples. J Nerv Ment Dis, 192(12), 857–863.

  • Bowlby J. (1969). Attachment and Loss (vol. 1). New York: Basic Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bracken, M. I., Messing, J. T., Campbell, J. C., La Flair, L. N., & Kub, J. (2010). Intimate partner violence and abuse among female nurses and nursing personnel: Prevalence and risk factors. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 31, 137–148.

  • Bradshaw, C.P. & Garbarino, J. (2004). Social cognition as a mediator of the influence of family and community violence: Implications for intervention. In J. Devine, J. Gilligan, K. Miczek, R. Shaikh, & D. Pfaff (Eds.), Scientific approaches to youth violence prevention. (1036, 85–105). Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences.

  • Bradshaw, C.P., & Hazan, C. (2006). Examining views of self in relation to views of others: Implications for research on aggression and self-esteem. Journal of Research in Personality, 40, 1209–1218.

  • Brennan, K., Clark, C., & Shaver, P. (Eds.). (1998). Self-report measures of adult romantic attachment. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Breslau, N., Peterson, E. L., Kessler, R. C., & Schultz, L. R. (1999). Short screening scale for DSM-IV posttraumatic stress disorder. American Journal Psychiatry, 156, 908–11.

  • Brohan E., Henderson C., Wheat K., Malcolm E., Clement S., Barley E. A., et al. (2012). Systematic review of beliefs, behaviours, and influencing factors associated withdisclosure of a mental health problems in the workplace. BMC Psychiatry, 12(11).

  • Campbell, J., Jones, A. S., Dienemann, J., Kub, J., Schollenberger, J., O’Campo, P., et al. (2002). Intimate partner violence and physical health consequences. Arch Intern Med, 162(10), 1157–1163.

  • Chen, F., Curran, P. J., Bollen, K. A., Kirby, J., & Paxton, P. (2008). An empirical evaluation of the use of fixed cutoff points in RMSEA test statistic in structural equation models. Sociological Methods and Research, 36, 462–494.

  • Coker, A. L., Davis, K. E., Arias, I., Desai, S., Sanderson, M., Brandt, H. M., et al. (2002). Physical and mental health effects of intimate partner violence for men and women. Am J Prev Med, 23(4), 260–268.

  • Coker A. L., Smith P. H., McKeown R. E., & King M. J. (2000). Frequency and correlates of intimate partner violence by type: physical, sexual, and psychological battering. American Journal of Public Health, 90(4), 553–559.

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Coker A. L., Weston R., Creson D. L., Justice B., & Blakeney P. (2005). PTSD symptoms among men and women survivors of intimate partner violence: the role of risk and protective factors. Violence and Victims, 20(6), 625–643.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Doumas, D. M., Pearson, C. L., Elgin, J. E., & McKinley, L. L. (2008). Adult attachment as a risk factor for intimate partner violence: the "mispairing" of partners’ attachment styles. J Interpers Violence, 23(5), 616–634. doi:10.1177/0886260507313526

  • Downey G., & Feldman S. I. (1996). Implications of rejection sensitivity for intimate relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(6), 1327–1343.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dutton D. G., Saunders K., Starzomski A., & Bartholomew K. (1994). Intimacy-anger and insecure attachment as precursors of abuse in intimate relationships. [Article]. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 24(15), 1367–1386.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fraley, R. C., Heffernan, M. E., Vicary, A. M., & Brumbaugh, C. C. (2011). The Experiences in Close Relationships-Relationship Structures questionnaire: a method for assessing attachment orientations across relationships. Psychol Assess, 23(3), 615–625. doi:10.1037/a0022898

  • Fraley, R. C., Waller, N. G., & Brennan, K. A. (2000). An item response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78, 350–365.

  • Golding J. (1999). Intimate Partner Violence as a Risk Factor for Mental Disorders: A Meta-Analysis. Journal of Family Violence, 14(2), 99–132.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gormley B. (2005). An Adult Attachment Theoretical Perspective of Gender Symmetry in Intimate Partner Violence. Sex Roles, 52, 785–795.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gotlib I. H., & Hammen C. L. (1992). Psychological aspects of depression: Toward a cognitive-interpersonal integration. Chichester, U.K.: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hamilton, C. (2000). Continuity and discontinuity of attachment from infancy through adolescence. Child Development, 71, 690–694.

  • Hankin, B. L., Kassel, J. D., & Abela, J. R. (2005). Adult attachment dimensions and specificity of emotional distress symptoms: prospective investigations of cognitive risk and interpersonal stress generation as mediating mechanisms. Pers Soc Psychol Bull, 31(1), 136–151. doi:10.1177/0146167204271324

  • Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic Love conceptualized as an ttachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511–524.

  • Ingram R. E., Miranda J., & Segal Z. V. (1998). Cognitive vulnerability to depression. New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Iverson K. M., Litwack S. D., Pineles S. L., Suvak M. K., Vaughn R. A., & Resick P. A. (2013). Predictors of intimate partner violence revictimization: the relative impact of distinct PTSD symptoms, dissociation, and coping strategies. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 26(1), 102–110. doi:10.1002/jts.21781.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kimerling, R., Ouimette, P., Prins, A., Nisco, P., Lawler, C., Cronkite, R., & Moos, R. H. (2006). Brief report: Utility of a short screening scale for DSM-IV PTSD in primary care. Journal of General Internal Medicine, 21,65–7.

  • Kline R. B. (2005). Principles and practice of structural equation modeling (2nd ed., ). New York: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kramer, A., Lorenzon, D., & Mueller, G. (2004). Prevalence of intimate partner violence and health implications for women using emergency departments and primary care clinics. Womens Health Issues, 14(1), 19–29. doi:10.1016/j.whi.2003.12.002

  • Krause E. D., Kaltman S., Goodman L. A., & Dutton M. A. (2008). Avoidant coping and PTSD symptoms related to domestic violence exposure: a longitudinal study. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 21(1), 83–90. doi:10.1002/jts.20288.

  • Kwon P., & Laurenceau J. P. (2002). A longitudinal study of the hopelessness theory of depression: testing the diathesis-stress model within a differential reactivity and exposure framework. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 58(10), 1305–1321. doi:10.1002/jclp.10043.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lang, A. J., Stein, M. B., Kennedy, C. M., & Foy, D. W. (2004). Adult psychopathology and intimate partner violence among survivors of childhood maltreatment. J Interpers Violence, 19(10), 1102–1118. doi:10.1177/0886260504269090

  • Lilly M. M., & Graham-Bermann S. A. (2010). Intimate partner violence and PTSD: the moderating role of emotion-focused coping. Violence and Victims, 25(5), 604–616.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lipsky, S., Krupski, A., Roy-Byrne, P., Lucenko, B., Mancuso, D., & Huber, A. (2010). Effect of co-occurring disorders and intimate partner violence on substance abuse treatment outcomes. J Subst Abuse Treat, 38(3), 231–244. doi:10.1016/j.jsat.2009.12.005

  • Lopez, F. G., & Gormley, B. (2002). Stability and change in adult attachment style over the first-year college transition: Relations to self-confidence, coping, and distress patterns. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 49, 355–364.

  • Lynch, M., & Cicchetti, D. (1991). Patterns of relatedness in maltreated and nonmaltreated children: Connections among multiple representational models. Development and Psychopathology, 3, 207–226.

  • Mayseless, O. (1991). Adult attachment patterns and courtship violence. Family Relations, 40, 21–28.

  • McKeever V. M., & Huff M. E. (2003). A diathesis-stress model of posttraumatic stress disorder: Ecological, biological, and residual stress pathways. Review of General Psychology, 7(3), 237–250.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Metalsky G. I., & Joiner Jr. T. E. (1992). Vulnerability to depressive symptomatology: a prospective test of the diathesis-stress and causal mediation components of the hopelessness theory of depression. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 63(4), 667–675.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell M. D., Hargrove G. L., Collins M. H., Thompson M. P., Reddick T. L., & Kaslow N. J. (2006). Coping variables that mediate the relation between intimate partner violence and mental health outcomes among low-income, African American women. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 62(12), 1503–1520. doi:10.1002/jclp.20305.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Monroe S. M., & Simons A. D. (1991). Diathesis-stress theories in the context of life stress research: implications for the depressive disorders. Psychological Bulletin, 110(3), 406–425.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muller R. T., Sicoli L. A., & Lemieux K. E. (2000). Relationship between attachment style and posttraumatic stress symptomatology among adults who report the experience of childhood abuse. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 13(2), 321–332. doi:10.1023/A:1007752719557.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Muthén, L. K., & Muthén, B. O. (1998-2012). Mplus User's Guide. Seventh Edition. Los Angeles, CA: Muthén & Muthén.

  • Nixon, R. D., Resick, P. A., & Nishith, P. (2004). An exploration of comorbid depression among female victims of intimate partner violence with posttraumatic stress disorder. J Affect Disord, 82(2), 315–320. doi:10.1016/j.jad.2004.01.008

  • Plichta, S. B. (2004). Intimate partner violence and physical health consequences: policy and practice implications. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 19(11), 1296–1323. doi:10.1177/0886260504269685

  • Rabin R. F., Jennings J. M., Campbell J. C., & Bair-Merritt M. (2009). Intimate partner violence screening tools. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 36(5), 439–445.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Radloff, L. S. (1977). The CES-D scale: A self-report depression scale for research in the general population. Applied Psychological Measurement, 1, 385–401.

  • Rapoza K. A., & Baker A. T. (2008). Attachment styles, alcohol, and childhood experiences of abuse: an analysis of physical violence in dating couples. Violence and Victims, 23(1), 52–65.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts J. E., Gotlib I. H., & Kassel J. D. (1996). Adult attachment security and symptoms of depression: the mediating roles of dysfunctional attitudes and low self-esteem. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 70(2), 310–320.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts, N. & Noller, P. (1998). The associations between adult attachment and couple violence. In J. Simpson & W. Rholes, (Eds.), Attachment Theory and Close Relationships (pp.317–350). New York: Guilford.

  • Saltzman, L. E., Fanslow, J. L., McMahon, P. M., & Shelley, G. A.. (2002). Intimate partner violence surveillance: Uniform definitions and recommended data elements, version 1.0.. Atlanta: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control.

  • Sandberg, D. A. (2010). Adult attachment as a predictor of posttraumatic stress and dissociation. J Trauma Dissociation, 11(3), 293–307. doi:10.1080/15299731003780937

  • Scott S., & Babcock J. C. (2010). Attachment as a Moderator Between Intimate Partner Violence and PTSD Symptoms. Journal of Family Violence, 25, 1–9.

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shaver, P. R., Schachner, D. A., & Mikulincer, M. (2005). Attachment style, excessive reassurance seeking, relationship processes, and depression. Pers Soc Psychol Bull, 31(3), 343–359. doi:10.1177/0146167204271709

  • Sibley, C. G., Fischer, R., & Liu, J. H. (2005). Reliability and validity of the revised experiences in close relationships (ECR-R) self-report measure of adult romantic attachment. Pers Soc Psychol Bull, 31(11), 1524–1536. doi:10.1177/0146167205276865

  • Soeken, K., Parker, B., McFarlane, J., & Lominak, M. C. (Eds.). (1998). The abuse assessment screen: A clinical instrument to measure frequency, severity, and perpetrator of abuse against women.. Newbury Park: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steiger, J. H. (1989). Causal modeling: a supplementary module for SYSTAT and SYGRAPH. SYSTAT; Evanston, IL.

  • Thompson M. P., Kaslow N. J., Kingree J. B., Puett R., Thompson N. J., & Meadows L. (1999). Partner abuse and posttraumatic stress disorder as risk factors for suicide attempts in a sample of low-income, inner-city women. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 12(1), 59–72. doi:10.1023/A:1024742215337.

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • West M., Rose S. M., Spreng S., Verhoef M., & Bergman J. (1999). Anxious attachment and severity of depressive symptomatology in women. Women & Health, 29(1), 47–56. doi:10.1300/J013v29n01_04.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This research was funded in part by grants (R010H007953) and (F31AA 018,935) from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health and the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism, respectively.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mental Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Hampton House 811, 624 N. Broadway, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, USA

    Lareina N. La Flair, Catherine P. Bradshaw & Tamar Mendelson

  2. Department of Community Health, Johns Hopkins School of Nursing, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Jacquelyn Campbell

Authors
  1. Lareina N. La Flair
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Catherine P. Bradshaw
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Tamar Mendelson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jacquelyn Campbell
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Lareina N. La Flair.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

La Flair, L.N., Bradshaw, C.P., Mendelson, T. et al. Intimate Partner Violence and Risk of Psychiatric Symptoms: the Moderating Role of Attachment. J Fam Viol 30, 567–577 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-015-9681-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10896-015-9681-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation