The relationship between childhood trauma and attachment styles: with the moderator role

of emotional regulation

Research proposal

Betul Katipoglu – 2369116

Department of Clinical psychology master’s program – Bahçeşehir University

Proposed advisor: Aliye Canan

July 19, 2024

Childhood trauma refers to adverse experiences during childhood, including physical, emotional,
or sexual abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence. These experiences can have long-
lasting effects on an individual's psychological and emotional development. According to the
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) study, there is a strong correlation between childhood
trauma and a range of negative outcomes in adulthood, including mental health disorders,
substance abuse, and impaired social functioning (Felitti et al., 1998).

Attachment theory, originally developed by John Bowlby and later expanded by Mary
Ainsworth, provides a framework for understanding the impact of early relational experiences on
an individual's emotional and social development. Attachment styles are typically categorized
into secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized (Ainsworth et al., 1978). Secure attachment is
characterized by trust and comfort in relationships, while insecure attachment styles are often
marked by anxiety, avoidance, or disorganization in relationships. Research indicates that
childhood trauma can disrupt the development of secure attachment, leading to insecure
attachment styles in adulthood (Cicchetti & Toth, 1995).

Emotional regulation refers to the processes by which individuals influence their emotions, how
they experience them, and how they express them. Effective emotional regulation is crucial for
mental health and well-being, and deficits in this area are linked to various psychological
disorders (Gross, 2002). Childhood trauma can impair emotional regulation abilities, leading to
heightened emotional reactivity and difficulty managing stress (Cloitre et al., 2005).

Interrelationships and Mediating Role of Emotional Regulation

The relationship between childhood trauma and attachment styles is well-documented, with
trauma often leading to insecure attachment (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2016). Emotional regulation
may serve as a mediator in this relationship, as difficulties in regulating emotions can exacerbate
the negative impact of trauma on attachment. For instance, a child who experiences trauma may
develop maladaptive emotional regulation strategies, such as suppression or avoidance, which in
turn affect their attachment style and relational patterns (Kim & Cicchetti, 2010).
Theoretical Framework

The proposed research integrates attachment theory and emotional regulation theory to explore
the complex interplay between childhood trauma, attachment styles, and emotional regulation.
By examining the mediating role of emotional regulation, this study aims to contribute to a
deeper understanding of the mechanisms through which childhood trauma affects relational
outcomes and to identify potential intervention points for improving emotional and relational
health in trauma-affected individuals.

Research question

How does emotional regulation mediate the relationship between childhood trauma and adult
attachment styles?

Hypotheses

Hypothesis 1: Individuals with higher levels of childhood trauma will exhibit more insecure
attachment styles (anxious, avoidant, or disorganized) compared to those with lower levels of
childhood trauma.

Hypothesis 2: Effective emotional regulation will moderate the relationship between childhood
trauma and attachment styles, such that individuals with higher emotional regulation abilities
will exhibit less insecure attachment styles despite high levels of childhood trauma.

Hypothesis 3: Poor emotional regulation will strengthen the relationship between childhood
trauma and insecure attachment styles, such that individuals with both high levels of childhood
trauma and poor emotional regulation will exhibit the highest levels of insecure attachment
styles.

Statistical Analyses

1. Descriptive statistics
2. Correlation analysis
3. Single, Multiple regression analysis
Sampling

A mixed sampling approach was used, combining both snowball sampling and convenience
sampling methods to gather a diverse group of participants aged between 18 and 60 years old.
The sample is designed to encompass a wide range of socioeconomic statuses (SES) and
backgrounds, ensuring a comprehensive representation of perspectives.

Scales

Childhood trauma questionnaire – short form (CTQ-SF)

A short form (CTQ-SF) of Bernstein et al's Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (1994) was
developed by Bernstein et al in 2003. The original CTQ is a self-administered inventory that was
developed to provide reliable and valid retrospective assessment of child abuse and neglect.
Items on the CTQ ask about experiences in childhood and adolescence and are rated on a 5-
point, Likert-type scale with response options ranging from Never True to Very Often True.

The CTQ has five clinical scales--physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, and physical and
emotional neglect. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of the 70 original CTQ items
were used to create a 28-item version of the scale. Cronbach’s alpha = 0.85 Cronbach's α for the
five subscales from high to low was 0.857 (Emotional neglect), 0.755 (Sexual abuse), 0.713
(Physical abuse), 0.666 (Emotional abuse), and 0.491 (Physical neglect). The total score ranged
from 28 to 140.

Adult Attachment Scale (AAS)

The Adult Attachment Scale (AAS) was officially developed in 1990 but built on the earlier
work of Hazen & Shaver (1987) and Levy & Davis (1988). The scale was developed by
decomposing the original three prototypical descriptions (Hazen & Shaver, 1987) into a series of
18 items.

The scale consists of 18 items scored on a 5 pointlikert-type scale. It measures adult attachment
styles named “Secure”, “Anxious” and “Avoidant”, defined as:

Secure = high scores on Close and Depend subscales, low score on Anxiety subscale
 Anxious = high score on Anxiety subscale, moderate scores on Close and Depend subscales

Avoidant = low scores on Close, Depend, and Anxiety subscales

Cronbach's alpha is 0.82 for Close, 0.78 for Depend and 0.85 for Anxiety

Total score ranged from 18 to 108

Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale – Short Form (DERS-SF)

The Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale Short Form (DERS-SF) (Kaufman et al., 2015) is
an 18-item measure used to identify emotional regulation issues in adults. The measure covers 4
dimensions of emotional regulation: awareness and understanding of emotions; acceptance of
emotions; the ability to engage in goal-directed behavior and refrain from impulsive behavior
when experiencing negative emotions; and access to emotion regulation strategies perceived as
effective. The measure has six subscales: Nonacceptance of emotional responses, difficulty
engaging in goal-directed behavior, impulse control difficulties, lack of emotional awareness,
limited access to emotion regulation strategies, and lack of emotional clarity.

Cronbach’s alphas: Clarity (0.78), Awareness (0.78), Strategies (0.82), Non-Acceptance (0.85),
Impulse (0.89), Goals (0.91), and 0.89 for the total scale

Expected Implications: Advancing Theoretical Understanding:

This research will deepen the understanding of how childhood trauma impacts adult attachment
styles, specifically highlighting the role of emotional regulation as a mediating factor. By
integrating attachment theory with emotional regulation frameworks, this study will offer a more
nuanced perspective on the long-term effects of childhood trauma.