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Understanding posttrauma reactions within an attachment theory framework

journal contribution
posted on 2019-02-01, 00:00 authored by Emma MarshallEmma Marshall, P A Frazier
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd The purpose of this paper is to review recent research on posttrauma reactions (i.e., posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD] symptoms and self-reported posttraumatic growth [PTG]) using attachment theory as a framework. Attachment orientations are significantly related to PTSD symptoms: insecure attachment orientations (particularly attachment anxiety) are positively associated with PTSD symptoms whereas attachment security is negatively associated with PTSD symptoms. Although associations appear to be reciprocal, research typically focuses on insecure attachment orientations predicting PTSD symptoms and the possible mechanisms of those relations, particularly a lack of social support. Some trauma characteristics (e.g., trauma severity) also appear to moderate the association between attachment and PTSD symptoms. Research on attachment orientations and PTG, however, has yielded mixed results. More rigorous methods are needed to better understand the role of attachment orientations in actual growth from pre to post-trauma.

History

Journal

Current opinion in psychology

Volume

25

Pagination

167 - 171

Publisher

Elseiver

Location

Amsterdam, The Netherlands

ISSN

2352-250X

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2018, Elsevier

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