Author ORCID Identifier
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2543-0344
Document Type
Dissertation
Date of Award
2024
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Psychology
First Advisor
Raluca M. Simons
Abstract
The present study examined the joint roles of attachment (anxiety and avoidance) and affective instability in the association between childhood betrayal trauma and intimate partner violence (IPV) perpetration and victimization severity. Two major societal concerns are IPV and childhood maltreatment. Childhood betrayal trauma is a particularly damaging trauma perpetrated by someone the child trusts and depends upon (e.g., parents). Childhood betrayal trauma has been associated with an increased risk of later IPV, both victimization (e.g., Babcock & DePrince, 2013) and perpetration (e.g., Linder & Collins, 2005; Zurbriggen et al., 2010). Childhood betrayal trauma also impairs the development of a secure attachment style (e.g., Swanson & Mallinckrodt, 2001). In independent studies, avoidant attachment has been primarily associated with IPV victimization, while anxious attachment has been associated with both IPV perpetration and victimization. There is very little research on mechanisms between childhood betrayal trauma, attachment, and IPV perpetration and victimization. We hypothesized that attachment insecurity fostered by childhood betrayal trauma would mediate the association between childhood betrayal trauma and IPV victimization and perpetration. Finally, affective instability has been independently associated with attachment anxiety (e.g., Pietromonaco et al., 2006; Abtahi & Kerns, 2017) and is a risk factor for IPV perpetration (e.g., Munro & Sellbom, 2020; Krause-Utz et al., 2021a). We hypothesized that affective instability would both moderate and mediate the association between anxious attachment and IPV perpetration. Consistent with hypotheses, attachment anxiety partially mediated the association between childhood betrayal trauma and IPV victimization, and attachment anxiety partially mediated the association between childhood betrayal trauma and IPV perpetration. However, inconsistent with hypotheses, attachment avoidance did not mediate the association between childhood betrayal trauma and IPV victimization. Additionally, affective instability did not moderate, but did partially mediate, the association between attachment anxiety and IPV perpetration. Lastly, although not expected, affective instability fully mediated the association between attachment avoidance and IPV victimization. This was the first study to examine childhood betrayal trauma, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, and affective instability as risk factors for IPV perpetration and IPV victimization.
Subject Categories
Clinical Psychology
Keywords
affective instability, attachment insecurity, childhood betrayal trauma, intimate partner violence, perpetration, victimization
Number of Pages
172
Publisher
University of South Dakota
Recommended Citation
Shaughnessy, Emma, "CHILDHOOD BETRAYAL TRAUMA AND INTIMATE PARTNER VIOLENCE PERPETRATION AND VICTIMIZATION: THE ROLE OF ATTACHMENT INSECURITY AND AFFECTIVE INSTABILITY" (2024). Dissertations and Theses. 216.
https://red.library.usd.edu/diss-thesis/216