Attachment and Reflective Functioning Moderating the Relationship between Child Sexual and Physical Abuse, Post-traumatic Stress, and Post-traumatic Growth

Jammoul, Abeer

Attachment and Reflective Functioning Moderating the Relationship between Child Sexual and Physical Abuse, Post-traumatic Stress, and Post-traumatic Growth

Files

Attachment and Reflective Functioning Moderating the Relationship between Child Sexual and Physical Abuse, Post-traumatic Stress, and Post-traumatic Growth.pdf (2.87 MB)

Date

2023

Authors

Jammoul, Abeer

Abstract

This study intends to further explore the relationship between child sexual and physical abuse, trauma, and growth, with an emphasis on its link to attachment and reflective functioning. It expands on previous work by assessing the degree to which attachment security plays a role in the relationship between a history of child sexual and physical abuse and posttrauma-related symptoms with highlighting the possibility of post traumatic-growth. It also aims to highlight the significance of mentalization/reflective functioning that can be a protective factor between child sexual and physical abuse and both PTS and PTG A sample of 125 Lebanese adults 18 years and older, living in Lebanon, who have experienced sexual and physical abuse during childhood were asked to fill out a questionnaire including demographic questions and a 25 minute questionnaire sexual and physical abuse questionnaire (SPAQ), revised-adult attachment scale (close relationship version), the reflective functioning questionnaire (RFQ), the PCL‐5 short version 4-item self-report questionnaire, and finally a final structure of 8 items scale that measure PTG (PTGI-8). Only 85 met criteria and were included in the study. In this sample, secure attachment plays a protective in individuals who experienced childhood abuse where securely attached individuals scores lower on PTS than insecurely attached. However, attachment doesn’t play a role in the relation between child abuse and PTG. Reflective functioning is also a good protective factor by which “genuine” mentalizing aids in lowering PTS symptoms in abused individuals, however it doesn’t have the same powerful significance in increasing PTG.

Citation

Jammoul, A. (2023). Attachment and Reflective Functioning Moderating the Relationship between Child Sexual and Physical Abuse, Post-traumatic Stress, and Post-traumatic Growth (SBS thesis, Haigazian University)