Childhood sexual abuse and attachment: An intergenerational perspective.
Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a recognized risk factor for various negative outcomes in adult survivors and their offspring. We used the Dynamic-Maturational Model of attachment theory as a framework for exploring the impact of maternal CSA on children's attachment relationships in the context of a longitudinal sample of adult survivors of CSA and non-abused comparison mothers and their children. Results indicated that children of CSA survivors were more likely to have extreme strategies of attachment than the children of non-abused mothers. However, because both groups were at socioeconomic risk, both were typified by anxious attachment. Explanations for findings and implications for children's development are explored.
Kwako
Laura E
LE
National Institute of Nursing Research, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892-0935, USA. kwako.laura@gmail.com
Noll
Jennie G
JG
Putnam
Frank W
FW
Trickett
Penelope K
PK
D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003674:Defense Mechanisms; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008425:Maternal Behavior / Q000523:psychology; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009769:Object Attachment; D016487:Parenting / Q000523:psychology*; D010552:Personality Assessment; D019962:Reactive Attachment Disorder / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D055815:Young Adult