The Differential Effects of Abuse Characteristics and Attachment in the Prediction of Long-Term Effects of Sexual Abuse

Abstract

It was hypothesized that sexual abuse severity and adult attachment (reflective of the more pervasive experience of growing up in a family) would each have significant but distinct effects on the long-term functioning of incest survivors. A sample of 112 incest survivors completed the Beck Depression Inventory, the Symptom Checklist-10, the Impact of Event Scale, the MCMI-II, and the Relationship Questionnaire (a measure of adult attachment). Hierachical regression analyses indicated that sexual abuse characteristics (particularly early age of onset) predicted depression, intrusive thoughts, and, to a lesser degree, avoidance of memories of the abuse (symptoms consistent with a traditional PTSD conceptualization). Adult attachment (in particular, a lack of secure attachment) predicted avoidance of memories of the abuse. In addition, adult attachment predicted avoidant, dependent, self-defeating, and borderline personality disorders. Implications for the focus of therapy with the sexual abuse survivor are discussed.