The role of attachment in the relationship between child maltreatment and later emotional and behavioral functioning

    Authors

    A. Lowell; K. Renk;A. H. Adgate

    Comments

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    Abbreviated Journal Title

    Child Abuse Negl.

    Keywords

    Trauma; Child maltreatment; Emotional abuse; Attachment; Internal; working models; Internalizing problems; Externalizing problems; Emerging; adults; PERSONALITY-DISORDER SYMPTOMS; ADULT ATTACHMENT; PSYCHOLOGICAL; ADJUSTMENT; DEPRESSIVE SYMPTOMS; STRANGE SITUATION; COLLEGE-STUDENTS; LATE ADOLESCENCE; SEXUAL-ABUSE; PSYCHOPATHOLOGY; PRESCHOOL; Family Studies; Psychology, Social; Social Work

    Abstract

    The experience of childhood maltreatment is an important predictor of unfavorable emotional and behavioral outcomes. Because little research examined explanatory variables in the relationship between childhood maltreatment experiences and later outcomes, this study examined the role that attachment serves in this relationship. Four hundred twenty-four participants completed questionnaires assessing the variables of interest for this study. Results indicated that both childhood maltreatment experiences (particularly emotional abuse) and attachment (particularly to mothers and peers) are significant predictors of later emotional and behavioral outcomes. Further, attachment contributed unique and significant variance to the relationship between childhood maltreatment experiences and later outcomes. Such findings suggested that secure attachment may serve as a protective factor against maladaptive emotional and behavioral outcomes as children reach emerging adulthood, even in the context of childhood maltreatment experiences. The importance of studying the relationships among these variables is discussed. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

    Journal Title

    Child Abuse & Neglect

    Volume

    38

    Issue/Number

    9

    Publication Date

    1-1-2014

    Document Type

    Article

    Language

    English

    First Page

    1436

    Last Page

    1449

    WOS Identifier

    WOS:000341897000002

    ISSN

    0145-2134

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