Abstract
This study examines the relationship between adult attachment style and posttraumatic stress symptomatology in a volunteer sample of adults who reported the experience of childhood abuse. Sixty-six individuals completed measures of abuse history, attachment style, and posttraumatic stress symptomatology. Results indicated that 76% of participants endorsed one of the three insecure attachment styles (dismissing, fearful, or preoccupied). Analyses of variances revealed that those who displayed fearful and preoccupied attachment styles, which represent a negative view of the self, had the highest mean scores on posttraumatic symptoms. Correlational analyses revealed a significant positive relationship between negative view of self and posttraumatic stress symptomatology, but not between negative view of other and posttraumatic stress symptomatology. Regression analyses indicated that having a negative view of self was most highly associated with posttraumatic stress symptoms, followed by a history of physical abuse. The regression analysis further indicated that negative view of other was unrelated to posttraumatic stress symptoms.
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Muller, R.T., Sicoli, L.A. & Lemieux, K.E. Relationship Between Attachment Style and Posttraumatic Stress Symptomatology Among Adults Who Report the Experience of Childhood Abuse. J Trauma Stress 13, 321–332 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007752719557
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1007752719557