Investigating a Relationship between Childhood Trauma, Emotional Intelligence, and Attachment Styles among Young Adults

Abstract

Childhood trauma can have a profound impact on an individual's emotional intelligence and attachment styles, shaping their ability to regulate emotions and form relationships in adulthood. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between childhood trauma, emotional intelligence, and attachment styles among young adults. A total of 153 participants were surveyed using a Google Form questionnaire, and data were analysed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and regression analysis with the assistance of SPSS software.  Regression analysis revealed that childhood trauma did not significantly predict emotional intelligence,  leading to the rejection of H1. However, childhood trauma was found to have a significant impact on attachment styles , supporting H2. Pearson correlation analysis indicated a weak positive relationship between childhood trauma and emotional intelligence , while childhood trauma and attachment styles showed a moderate positive correlation , partially supporting H3. The findings align with previous research suggesting that childhood trauma influences attachment styles more strongly than emotional intelligence. This supports the need for targeted psychological interventions to enhance emotional regulation and foster secure attachments among trauma-affected individuals. The study's limitations include self-reported data, a cross-sectional design, and lack of gender-specific analysis. Future research should incorporate longitudinal studies and diverse participant samples to deepen the understanding of these relationships.