A Bayesian analysis of the link between adult disorganized attachment and dissociative symptoms

• Published in: Personality and individual differences Vol. 107; pp. 17 - 22
• Main Authors: Paetzold, Ramona L., Rholes, W. Steven, Andrus, Joel L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2017; Elsevier Science Ltd
• Subjects: Adults; Attachment; Attachment theory; Attitudes; Bayesian analysis; Bayesian methods; Child abuse & neglect; Disorganized attachment; Dissociation; Psychologists; Self report; Attachment theory; Disorganized attachment; Dissociation; Bayesian methods
• ISSN: 0191-8869; 1873-3549
• DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2016.11.031

Research on disorganized attachment has indicated that for children, adolescents, and in early adulthood, dissociative symptoms tend to be associated with disorganized attachment. Additionally, empirical evidence has supported theoretical models suggesting that childhood maltreatment and concurrent abuse exacerbate the effects of disorganization, interacting to enhance dissociative effects. This literature is developmental in nature and does not make use of a self-report measure of disorganized attachment for adults, making it difficult to determine whether similar relationships exist in adulthood. We fill this gap, demonstrating to social and personality psychologists that a self-report measure of disorganization replicates the results for a community sample of adults. We employ a Bayesian approach to analyze our data. •Adult disorganized attachment is related to dissociation in adulthood.•Childhood and concurrent abuse exacerbate this effect in a community sample.•The results parallel those in childhood and adolescent research.•A Bayesian analysis demonstrates a direct method of inferring these outcomes.