Are self-esteem and adult attachment affected by previous experiences of youth victimisation?

INTRODUCTION: Some research show the impact of the traumatic experiences of emotional abuse during childhood in an insecure attachment style [1], leading to a negative attitude towards oneself and towards others [2]. Studies also show that child abuse is a significant predictor of low self-esteem in adulthood [3]. The objectives of the current study are to analyse the relationship between the youth victimisation and self-esteem in adulthood, the adult attachment and the youth victimisation, and the self-esteem in adults and the adult attachment. This study is important to show, in a Portuguese sample, how these variables are linked, providing knowledge about the implications of previous experiences of youth victimisation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample comprised 109 Portuguese participants, with ages between 18 and 68 years old (M = 33.96, SD = 13.97), and the majority was female (n = 82, 77.4%). Participants responded online to a sociodemographic questionnaire, a Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) [4], a Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) [5], and an Adult Attachment Scale-R (AAS-R) [6]. Portuguese versions of the questionnaires were used. RESULTS: The total score of the RSES revealed a significant statistical correlation with the CTQ subscales: Emotional Abuse (r=–0.233, p=.016), Emotional Neglect (r=–0.201, p=.039), and Physical Neglect (r=–0.235, p=.015). The total score of the CTQ showed significant statistical and correlations with the total score of the AAS-R and with its subscales: Anxiety (r = 0.198, p=.042), Close (r = 0.477, p<.001), and Depend (r = 0.445, p<.001). The factor Anxiety in the AAS-R showed a significant statistical correlation with the CTQ subscale Emotional Abuse (r = 0.349, p<.001). The subscale Close in the AAS-R showed significant statistical correlations with the CTQ subscales: Emotional Abuse (r=–0.266, p=.006), Emotional Neglect (r=–0.346, p<.001), Physical Neglect (r=–0.244, p=.012).The subscale Depend on the AAS-R revealed a significant statistical correlation with the CTQ subscales: Emotional Abuse (r=–0.249, p=.010). The RSES also showed a significant statistical correlation with the AAS-R subscales: Anxiety (r=–0.590, p<.001), Close (r = 0.511, p<.001), and Depend (r = 0.354, p<.001). DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS: This study highlights the relationship between experiences of youth victimisation and the increase of attachment anxiety in adulthood, decreased self-esteem, comfort with proximity, and confidence in others concerning the attachment in adults. The current study corroborates previous findings [1,2]. This research contributes to the practice of clinical and forensic psychology in the prevention and intervention in childhood trauma, showing, in a Portuguese sample, the impact of the social implications of trauma on attachment style, and self-esteem, during adulthood. However, although this research achieved important results, further studies are recommended, developing a theoretical model with those variables, and with a larger sample.