Published Paper Details:

This research delves into the connection between adverse psychosocial experiences during childhood and the attachment styles that individuals develop as adults within a group of 200 participants. The study, employing a correlational research approach, delves into how adverse early-life incidents are linked to the emergence of secure, preoccupied, dismissive, and fearful patterns of attachment later in life. The participants, divided equally by gender, were selected using a parametric snowball sampling technique. Data gathering utilized two main tools: the Childhood Adverse Experiences Questionnaire (CAQ) and the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ). The CAQ, comprising 30 items, scrutinizes different aspects of childhood adversity such as psychosocial challenges, familial difficulties, and emotional abuse. On the other hand, the ASQ assesses secure, preoccupied, dismissive, and fearful attachment styles through a 24-item Likert scale. The results demonstrate noteworthy correlations between childhood psychosocial adversity and adult attachment styles. Particularly, psychosocial adversity exhibited a robust positive association with preoccupied attachment (r = .478, p < .01) and fearful attachment (r = .564, p < .01), indicating that higher levels of early adversity are linked to a greater likelihood of adopting these insecure attachment patterns. Moreover, significant relationships were identified between psychosocial adversity and both dismissive attachment (r = .333, p < .01) and secure attachment (r = .191, p < .01), although the latter displayed a negative trend. The outcomes emphasize the significant influence of childhood psychosocial adversity on the development of adult attachment styles. Greater exposure to adverse situations during childhood correlates with an increased probability of forming insecure attachment styles like preoccupied and fearful attachments, which can result in notable difficulties in emotional regulation and relationship dynamics in adulthood. The study accentuates the necessity for early interventions designed to alleviate the consequences of childhood adversity and foster healthier attachment outcomes.