Childhood maltreatment, complex trauma symptoms, and unresolved attachment in an at-risk sample of adolescent mothers

Abstract

Associations between unresolved attachment, abuse history, and a wide range of trauma-related symptomatology were examined in an at-risk sample (N = 62). Fifty percent reported severe childhood physical and/or sexual abuse. An independent trauma interview elicited more reports of childhood sexual abuse than the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI); conversely, the AAI elicited more reports of physical abuse. Childhood physical abuse, sexual abuse, and general maltreatment were associated with unresolved status. Furthermore, sexual abuse history and general maltreatment predicted unresolved loss, suggesting that they adversely affected the integration of other emotional and/or traumatic experiences. Women classified as Unresolved reported higher levels of dissociation, confusion regarding self-identity, and relationship problems. Findings complement and extend empirical support for the theorized association between dissociative processes and unresolved attachment.

Keywords:

• Childhood maltreatment
• complex trauma
• Adult Attachment Interview (AAI)
• unresolved mourning
• dissociation

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by research grants from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council, Health Canada, and the Ontario Mental Health Foundation. We gratefully acknowledge the mothers who participated in our study and we thank Sandi Bento for her assistance in coding.

Notes

1 Fifty participants were randomly assigned to an intervention group and received eight home visits when infants were between 7 and 12 months old. The focus of these visits was to affirm the mother's positive parenting behaviours. The comparison group received one visit to collect supplementary data when infants were 9 months old. Twenty-eight (45%) of the 62 mothers were from the intervention group and 34 (55%) were from the control group. Group history (intervention versus control) was not related to any variables pertaining to the research questions in this study.

2 Seven participants fit the criteria for Cannot Classify because they clearly employed both Preoccupied and Dismissing attachment strategies (Hesse, 1996). Six of these displayed unresolved lapses substantial enough to be classified as Unresolved; however, the seventh also was included in the Unresolved category due to her demonstration of inconsistency at a global level. Six were assigned a secondary Preoccupied and one a secondary Dismissing classification.