Attachment Dimensions and Post-traumatic Symptoms Following Interpersonal Traumas versus Impersonal Traumas in Young Adults in Taiwan
Journal
Stress and Health
Journal Volume
33
Journal Issue
3
Pages
233-243
Date Issued
2017
Author(s)
Abstract
Greater risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is seen in individuals exposed to interpersonal traumatic events. Based on an attachment perspective, interpersonal trauma exposure may activate one's attachment insecurity system and disrupt affect, behaviour and interpersonal function, which may in turn create more difficulties to cope with interpersonal traumas and exacerbate PTSD symptomatology. The present study examined whether attachment anxiety relative to attachment avoidance would be a stronger predictor of greater PTSD symptoms following interpersonal traumas versus impersonal traumas in a Taiwanese sample. One hundred and sixty-two trauma-exposed Taiwanese young adults completed the measures of symptoms of depression, anxiety and PTSD, and attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance. In this Taiwanese study, higher attachment anxiety was observed in individuals who were exposed to interpersonal traumas. The interpersonal trauma group reported greater PTSD symptoms than did the impersonal trauma group. Specifically, after controlling for age, occurrence of trauma and distress of trauma, attachment anxiety, but not attachment avoidance, predicted more PTSD total severity and avoidance symptoms in the interpersonal trauma group. The findings may be pertinent to attachment anxiety-related hyperactivating strategies, as well as specific cultural values and a forbearance strategy applied to regulate traumatic distress in a collectivist society. Copyright ? 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Copyright ? 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Subjects
attachment anxiety; attachment avoidance; impersonal trauma; interpersonal trauma; PTSD symptoms
Other Subjects
adult; age; anxiety; anxiety assessment; arousal; Article; avoidance behavior; comparative study; controlled study; coping behavior; cross-sectional study; cultural value; depression; depression assessment; disease severity; emotional attachment; female; human; impersonal trauma; interpersonal trauma; male; posttraumatic stress disorder; predictor variable; psychotrauma; symptomatology; Taiwan; Taiwanese; young adult; adolescent; anxiety disorder; depression; human relation; life event; object relation; pathophysiology; posttraumatic stress disorder; severity of illness index; Adolescent; Adult; Anxiety; Anxiety Disorders; Depression; Humans; Interpersonal Relations; Life Change Events; Object Attachment; Severity of Illness Index; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic; Taiwan; Young Adult
Type
journal article