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25 J. Fam. Violence 1 (2010)

handle is hein.journals/jfamv25 and id is 1 raw text is: J Fam Viol (2010) 25:1-9 DOI 10.1007/s10896-009-9264-1 ORI(TINAL ARTICLE Attachment as a Moderator Between Intimate Partner Violence and PTSD Symptoms Shelby Scott - Julia C. Babcock Published online: 22 July 2009 C Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2009 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 attach- ment 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, attach- ment 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. Keywords Adult attachment Domestic violence- Traumatic symptoms - PTSD - Partner violence Introduction Attachment theory originally referred to the relationship between children and their caretakers, and how these relationships affect a child's self-concept and view of the social world (Bowlby 1979; Collins and Read 1990). This project was funded by Grant R03 MH066943-01A1 from the National Institutes of Health and by the University of Houston. S. Scott - J. C. Babcock (W) Department of Psychology, University of Houston, 126 Heyne Building, Houston, TX 77204-5022, USA e-mail: jbabcock@uh.edu According to the theory, children develop internal models, beliefs, and expectations about whether or not the caretaker is someone who is caring and responsive, and whether or not the self is worthy of care and attention (Collins and Read 1990). Children may be secure, anxious and ambivalent, or avoidant in response to separations and reunions with their caregivers (Bowlby 1979). These internal models of the self and others are thought to generalize to other relationships and shape affect regulation throughout the lifespan (Ainsworth et al. 1978; Alexander and Warner 2003; Bowlby 1979; Main et al. 1985). Applying the theory to adults, Hazan and Shaver (1987) developed a self-report measure of attachment styles in adult romantic relationships. Viewed as categories, a secure group described their relationships as mostly positive and trusting, thus indicating that they felt worthy of love and believed that could have caring relationships (Hazan and Shaver 1987). Avoidant individuals were characterized by fear of intimacy and anxious-ambivalent lovers were obsessed with the desire for reciprocation and union (Hazan and Shaver 1987). These two insecure groups reported more negative experiences and emotions associated with their romantic relationships than the secure group. Secure individuals were found to have longer, more stable relation- ships, while anxious-ambivalent lovers were found to have a more anxious and obsessive views of love, and avoidant individuals tended to be the least accepting of their partner (Hazan and Shaver 1987). Collins and Read (1990) modified the Hazan and Shaver questionnaire to empirically test the dimensions underlying the three attachment patterns: closeness, dependency, and anxiety. Closeness relates to a secure attachment style and reflects the ease, desire, and comfort one has in becoming close to her partner. The dependent attachment measure involves one's expectations that her partner will be reliable t_ Springer

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