THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CHILDHOOD MALTREATMENT, ATTACHMENT STYLES AND EMOTIONAL REGULATION AMONG YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

The current study aimed to explore the relationship between childhood maltreatment, attachment styles and emotional regulation among young adults. This study investigated the connections between negative childhood experiences and maltreatment in the form of emotional abuse and neglect, attachment styles and emotional regulation among young people (18–25 years old). The results reveald a substantial positive association between (a) emotional abuse and avoidant attachment and anxious attachment, suggesting that higher levels emotional abuse is associated with increased tendency to from avoidant and anxious attachment styles (b) between avoidant attachment and emotional suppression indicating increased tendency to develop negative emotional regulation strategies. Additionally, a strong inverse relationship was found between emotional neglect and cognitive reappraisal, indicating that emotionally neglected people were less likely to use cognitive reappraisal as a positive emotion regulation technique. Although not statistically significant, negative associations were found between anxious attachment and emotional neglect and emotional suppression as well as cognitive reappraisal, suggesting the need for additional research. The research's further ramifications are examined.