ABSTRACT

Attachment insecurity (i.e., attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) has been found to contribute to PTSD symptom severity in Veterans. However, little is known of the unique contribution of attachment insecurity on individual PTSD symptom clusters. In a community sample of 106 combat-deployed Veterans, active duty service members, and reservists, this study examined: (1) the relationships between childhood family experience, combat experience, attachment insecurity, and PTSD symptom clusters, and (2) the influence of attachment insecurity on PTSD symptom clusters. Results revealed significant correlations between attachment anxiety and all PTSD symptom clusters (rs = .22 –.43) and attachment avoidance and PTSD symptom clusters, except the avoidance cluster (rs = .21 −.36). Four multiple regression analyses were employed to address the second study aim. Childhood family experiences predicted negative alterations in cognitions and mood (β = –.30) and alterations in arousal and reactivity (β = –.20). Further, combat experience significantly predicted each symptom cluster of PTSD (βs = .03 –.44). In the second step, attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance were added to each model. Attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance predicted negative alterations in cognitions and mood (βs = .22 and .35) and alterations in arousal and reactivity (βs = .27 and .17). Inconsistent with previous research, attachment insecurity did not predict symptoms of avoidance. These results highlight the impact of attachment among a diverse sample of trauma exposed individuals and may provide insights for clinical implications and therapeutic approaches when working with Veterans and military personnel high in attachment insecurity.

摘要

已发现依恋不安全感（即依恋焦虑和避免依恋）加剧了退伍军人的PTSD症状严重程度。但是，很少有人知道附件不安全对单个PTSD症状群的独特贡献。在一个由106名经过战斗部署的退伍军人，现役军人和预备役人员组成的社区样本中，该研究检查了：（1）童年家庭经历，战斗经历，依恋不安全感和PTSD症状群之间的关系，以及（2）影响PTSD症状群集上的附件不安全问题。结果显示，依恋焦虑和所有PTSD症状簇（r s = .22 – .43）与依恋避免和PTSD症状簇之间有显着相关性，除了回避簇（rs = .21 -.36）。采用四个多元回归分析来解决第二个研究目标。童年家庭的经历预示着认知和情绪的消极变化（β= – .30）以及唤醒和反应性的变化（β  = – .20）。此外，战斗经验显著预测PTSD的各症状群（β S = 0.03 -.44）。在第二步中，向每个模型添加了附件焦虑和避免附件。依恋焦虑和避免依恋预测认知和情绪的消极变化（βs = 0.22和.35）以及唤醒和反应性的变化（βs = .27和.17）。与先前的研究不一致，依恋不安全并不能预测避免的症状。这些结果凸显了依恋在受过创伤的个人样本中的影响，并且在与依恋不安全感高的退伍军人和军事人员一起工作时，可能为临床意义和治疗方法提供见解。