title: The relationship between adult attachment style and post-traumatic stress symptoms: A meta-analysis.
abstract: There is increasing evidence that adult attachment plays a role in the development and perseverance of symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). This meta-analysis aims to synthesise this evidence and investigate the relationship between adult attachment styles and PTSD symptoms. A random-effects model was used to analyse 46 studies (N=9268) across a wide range of traumas. Results revealed a medium association between secure attachment and lower PTSD symptoms (ρˆ=-.27), and a medium association, in the opposite direction, between insecure attachment and higher PTSD symptoms (ρˆ=.26). Attachment categories comprised of high levels of anxiety most strongly related to PTSD symptoms, with fearful attachment displaying the largest association (ρˆ=.44). Dismissing attachment was not significantly associated with PTSD symptoms. The relationship between insecure attachment and PTSD was moderated by type of PTSD measure (interview or questionnaire) and specific attachment category (e.g. secure, fearful). Results have theoretical and clinical significance.
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Woodhouse
authors.affiliation: School of Health Sciences, City University London, United Kingdom. Electronic address: Susan.Ayers@city.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ayers
authors.affiliation: School of Psychology, University of Sussex, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Andy P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Field
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D005239:Fear / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009769:Object Attachment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000523:psychology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Attachment; Meta-analysis; Posttraumatic stress; Social bonds; Social cognition; Trauma