ADULT ATTACHMENT AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS IN SURVIVORS OF INCEST

Objective: The aim of the study was to test the hypothesis that adult attachment is related to distress and personality disorders in incest survivors. Method: Adult female incest survivors recruited from the co mmunity participated in a structured interview (Family Attachment Inte rview; Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991) and completed measures of current functioning (Impact of Event Scale, SCL-10, Beck Depression Inventory ) and personality (MCMI-II). Complete data from 92 cases out of the to tal sample of 112 were analyzed. Results: Analyses of variance suggest ed that attachment (as represented by a category) was significantly re lated to personality structure, with fearful individuals showing more avoidant, self-defeating, and borderline tendencies and preoccupied in dividuals showing more dependent, self-defeating, and borderline tende ncies than secure or dismissing individuals. Results of hierarchical r egression analyses suggested that attachment (as represented by four d imensions) was significantly associated with personality structure, de pression and distress, and abuse severity with post traumatic stress d isorder (PTSD) symptoms (intrusive thoughts and avoidance of memories) and depression. Conclusions: The findings demonstrated the propensity for insecure attachment among incest survivors. Sexual abuse severity and attachment have significant but distinct effects on longterm outc ome; abuse characteristics predict classic PTSD symptoms and attachmen t insecurity predicts distress, depression, and personality disorders above and beyond any effects of abuse severity. (C) 1997 Elsevier Scie nce Ltd.