Impact of attachment styles in the development of traumatic symptoms in French women victims of sexual violence

Bruno J.;Machado J.;Ferreira Y.;Munsch L.;Silès J.;Steinmetz T.;Rotonda C.;Vismara L;Tarquinio C.

2019-01-01

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Abstract

The insecure attachment style is characterized by either anxiety or avoiding behaviors. Literature showed that these two variables play a significant role on the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The aim of the present study was to examine the association between the presence of traumatic symptoms after a sexual violence and attachment style. The study sample consisted of 189 women who encountered at least one sexual coercion. An Internet-based data collection procedure on Survey-Monkey was used to measure the considered variables. Adult attachment styles and PTSD symptoms were measured by the Experiences in Close relationships (ECR) and the Post-Traumatic Checklist Scale (PCLS) questionnaire respectively. Multivariate linear regression was carried out to analyze the association between attachment quality and PCLS total score. Results confirmed the aggravating factor that attachment can become in the development of traumatic symptoms when women lived one or more sexual coercions. For such reasons, it is important to bring these women to develop a secure attachment by providing a secure basis in case of assessed insecurity.