Understanding posttrauma reactions within an attachment theory framework

Marshall, Emma; Frazier, Patricia A.

doi:10.1016/j.copsyc.2018.08.001

Cited by 30 publications

(32 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…In this field, studies have shown that youths with secure attachment showed more adaptive strategies when faced with a fearful situation, tending to seek comfort and emotional support from parents and friends [41,42]. Conversely, insecure attachment adolescents tend to use maladaptive responses in facing a stressful life event [43,44], showing higher anxiety levels [45], and post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms [46]. Recently, studies have shown that the quality of attachment may also influence individuals' experience of fear during the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting psychopathological outcomes [44,[47][48][49][50][51].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Adolescents’ Attachment to Parents and Peers and Psychological Distress Resulting from COVID-19. A Study on the Mediation Role of Alexithymia

Tambelli

Cimino

Marzilli

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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The scientific literature has shown the key role played by attachment to parents and peers and difficulties in recognizing, processing, and regulating emotions (i.e., alexithymia) in the (mal-)adaptive psychological response to the COVID-19 pandemic during late adolescence. No study has yet explored the complex interplay between these variables. We recruited a sample of 454 late adolescents (Mage = 22.79, SD = 2.27) and assessed attachment to parents and peers, alexithymia, and peritraumatic distress due to COVID-19 through self-report instruments. Attachment to fathers and peers, but not to mothers, and alexithymia significantly predicted levels of peritraumatic distress. Alexithymia fully and partially mediated the effect of, respectively, attachment to mothers and attachment to peers on peritraumatic distress due to COVID-19. These findings suggested that intervention programs focused on the promotion of peer social relationships, supportive parent–adolescent relationships, and the ability to recognize and discriminate one’s own and others’ emotions are needed in helping late adolescents to face the current health emergency and preventing short- and long-term psychopathological consequences related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Adolescents’ Attachment to Parents and Peers and Psychological Distress Resulting from COVID-19. A Study on the Mediation Role of Alexithymia

Tambelli

Cimino

Marzilli

et al. 2021

IJERPH

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“…In addition, Murphy, Elklit, Hyland and Shevlin (Murphy, Elklit, Hyland, & Shevlin, 2016) found that chronic PTSD increased attachment insecurities by heightening negative views of the self and others. These findings reflect the action of a selfamplifying cycle by which attachment insecurities prospectively contribute to PTSD severity, and PTSD further heightens attachment insecurities, which, in turn, sustain or even exacerbate the disorder over time (Marshall & Frazier, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 82%

The intergenerational sequelae of war captivity: the impact of a self-amplifying cycle of PTSD and attachment insecurities on offspring’s attachment orientations

Aloni

Mikulincer

Zerach

et al. 2020

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

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Background: War captivity is one of the most severe human-made traumatic events which lead to self-amplifying cycle of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and attachment insecurities. Solid evidence in the literature pointed out on the intergenerational transmission of PTSD symptoms. However, no research has been conducted on the intergenerational transmission of attachment insecurities and the effect of the self-amplifying cycle among former prisoners of war (ex-POWs) and their offspring attachment insecurities.Objective: This research aims to explore the intergenerational impact of a self-amplifying cycle of PTSD and attachment insecurities among ex-POWs on their offspring's attachment orientations. Method: We sampled dyads of Israeli ex-POWs of the Yom Kippur war and their adult offspring (ex-POW group) (n = 80) as well as dyads of Israeli veterans who fought in the Yom Kippur war, but were never held captive, and their adult offspring (control group) (n = 40). Veterans reported on PTSD severity and attachment orientations (anxiety, avoidance). Offspring reported on attachment orientations. We conducted (a) hierarchical regressions to predict offspring attachment orientations as a function of veterans' attachment orientations, and (b) moderated mediation analyses examining the role of veterans' PTSD in the intergenerational transmission of attachment orientations. Results: Ex-POWs' attachment anxiety was associated with offspring's reports of higher attachment anxiety and avoidance, and this intergenerational transmission of attachment was mediated by ex-POWs' PTSD severity. These effects were not significant in the control group. Conclusions: Decades after the war end, the intergenerational sequelae of war captivity are evident by the impact of the self-amplifying cycle of PTSD and attachment insecurities among ex-POWs and their offspring's attachment insecurities. Therefore, it is imperative for clinicians to recognize the intergenerational transmission and to focus not only on the trauma but also on the traumatized person's attachment injuries and the shattering of core beliefs about the world, self, and others, in the context of attachment-based therapies.Las secuelas intergeneracionales del cautiverio en guerra: el impacto de un ciclo auto-amplificador de TEPT e inseguridades en el apego en la orientación del apego de la descendencia.

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“…Research has found that individual differences in the functioning of the attachment system (known as attachment orientations) are associated with people’s experiences of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (characterized by four symptom sub clusters, including intrusive event-related thoughts, event-related avoidance, negative changes in cognitions and mood, and trauma-related arousal & reactivity, APA, 2013; Woodhouse et al, 2015). It is assumed that coping strategies are a critical mechanism driving the association between attachment orientations and PTSD symptoms (Marshall & Frazier, 2019). However, to our knowledge, this theoretical assumption has not been systematically explored within the trauma literature.…”

Section: Attachment Orientations and Ptsd Symptom Etiologymentioning

confidence: 99%

Unpacking the association between attachment insecurity and PTSD symptoms: The mediating role of coping strategies.

Marshall¹,

Karantzas²,

Chesterman³

et al. 2024

Psychological Trauma: Theory, Research, Practice, and Policy

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Objective: The current study provides a proof of concept for an aspect of the trauma and attachment model outlined in Marshall and Frazier (2019), which argues that attachment insecurity is associated with PTSD symptoms via hyperactivating/deactivating coping strategies, especially in the context of high trauma severity. Method: 302 participants who had experienced a traumatic event(s) completed a survey. Results: The results showed significant indirect effects between attachment insecurity and PTSD symptoms via hyperactivating/deactivating coping strategies, especially in the context of high trauma severity. In low trauma severity, hyperactivating strategies were not as strongly associated with PTSD symptoms and deactivating strategies not associated with PTSD symptoms. Hyperactivating and deactivating strategies were the mediators for attachment anxiety models and deactivating strategies was the mediator for attachment avoidance models. Conclusions: This proof of concept for Marshall and Frazier (2019) provides a platform for future research to better understand PTSD symptoms from an attachment framework. Interventions are likely to benefit by assisting people high on attachment avoidance and anxiety to modify their deactivating tendencies following a trauma of high severity and also assisting people high on attachment anxiety to modify their hyperactivating tendencies posttrauma, especially following a high trauma severity.

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Understanding posttrauma reactions within an attachment theory framework

Cited by 30 publications

References 33 publications

Late Adolescents’ Attachment to Parents and Peers and Psychological Distress Resulting from COVID-19. A Study on the Mediation Role of Alexithymia

Late Adolescents’ Attachment to Parents and Peers and Psychological Distress Resulting from COVID-19. A Study on the Mediation Role of Alexithymia

The intergenerational sequelae of war captivity: the impact of a self-amplifying cycle of PTSD and attachment insecurities on offspring’s attachment orientations

Unpacking the association between attachment insecurity and PTSD symptoms: The mediating role of coping strategies.

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