Adolescent survivors of childhood sexual abuse: The mediating role of attachment style and coping in psychological and interpersonal functioning

Objective: To examine attachment style and coping strategies as potential m ediating variables between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and psychological a nd interpersonal functioning, in an attempt to explain variability in exten t of disorder and level of functioning. Method: Eighty adolescent females, aged 14-16 years, answered questions reg arding abuse history, attachment style, coping with an interpersonal stress or, depression and trauma symptomatology, and conflict with a best friend. Results: Structural equation modeling analyses indicated that attachment st yle mediates the effects of CSA and child abuse and neglect on coping and p sychological distress. The indirect effects of CSA and other abuse through attachment accounted for most of the effects on coping and psychological di stress. Avoidant and cognitive coping strategies also served as mediators i n the models, accounting for most of the effects of the other variables on interpersonal conflict. Conclusions: The findings indicate that attachment style and coping strateg ies influence psychological and interpersonal functioning, mediating the di rect effects of CSA and other types of child abuse and neglect. These resul ts have implications for therapeutic intervention with children and adolesc ents who have experienced child abuse. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.