Attachment As a Moderator Between Intimate Partner Violence and PTSD Symptoms

Overview

Journal J Fam Violence

Date 2013 May 28

PMID 23710109

Citations 11

Authors

Shelby Scott

Julia C Babcock

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms have been linked to traumatic experiences, including intimate partner violence. However, not all battered women develop PTSD symptoms. The current study tests attachment style as a moderator in the abuse-trauma link among a community sample women in violent and non-violent relationships. Both attachment anxiety and dependency were found to moderate the relation between intimate partner violence and PTSD symptoms. However, attachment closeness did not function as a moderator. Differences in attachment may help to explain why certain victims of domestic abuse may be more susceptible to experiencing PTSD symptoms. Clinically, these findings may aid in the prediction and prevention of PTSD symptoms in women victimized by intimate partner abuse.

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