Attachment Theory and Sexual Abuse

Abstract

The application of attachment theory to the study of sexual abuse has provided a useful conceptual framework for understanding the familial antecedents and long term consequences of sexual abuse. Themes associated with insecure parent-child attachment are frequently found in the dynamics of families characterised by sexual abuse and specific categories of sequelae are related to probable attachment experiences. The present study hypothesized that there would be a higher amount of secure attachment in the normal population (university students), and a higher amount of insecure attachment styles among the sexually abused population. Moreover, it was predicted that there would be significantly greater parental warmth and affection remembered by the normal sample, as opposed to the clinical group, in which there would be a more controlling and intrusive parenting style remembered. Finally, a correlation between progress in therapy and attachment style, i.e. that there was more progress in therapy among individuals with secure attachment styles and vice versa, was expected. University students (normal sample, N=51) and sexual abuse survivors in therapy (clinical sample, N=41) completed a questionnaire made up of three attachment measures; the Relationship Questionnaire (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991 ); the Relationship Scales Questionnaire (Bartholomew & Horowitz.1991); and the Parental Bonding Instrument (Parker, Tupling & Brown, 1979). Progress in therapy was assessed using a visual analogue scale. The results demonstrated an association between attachment style and the two groups. The clinical group was more insecurely attached than the student group which followed patterns of attachment found overseas. Moreover, support was found for the hypothesis that parental style would differ in the two populations. However, no support was found for the hypothesis that progress in therapy was influenced by attachment style.