The Influence of Trauma on Attachment Styles

“Hello there! I’m here to provide you with a bit of information on how trauma influences attachment styles, with an emphasis on survivors' experiences, using a trauma-informed and gender-neutral approach. Experiencing abuse in any form is NOT OKAY, but what you are experiencing as a result of abuse is valid. What you, as a bystander, are going through while supporting a survivor is absolutely okay and typical too!  If you need additional resources or just someone to talk to, feel free to reach out to Imaara Foundation."

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Survivors of trauma, particularly those who have endured prolonged abuse, often experience disruptions in their ability to form and maintain healthy attachments. Attachment theory posits that early relationships shape an individual’s ability to form secure bonds in adulthood. However, trauma, especially when experienced in formative years, can significantly alter attachment styles.

How does trauma shape attachment styles?

What is the role of childhood trauma in attachment disruptions?

What is the intergenerational impact of trauma on attachment?

How can one heal and rebuild secure attachments?

Trauma significantly shapes attachment styles, often leading to insecure relational patterns that can persist into adulthood. However, through trauma-informed care and intentional healing efforts, survivors can rebuild secure attachments, foster healthy relationships, and break the cycle of trauma transmission across generations.

Want the references for this article?

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• Kheiriabad, M., Zarean, M., & Bayrami, M. (2024). Pathway linking attachment styles to post-traumatic growth among recovered COVID-19 patients: Testing the mediating role of coping styles. European Journal of Trauma Studies. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/20008066.2024.2398917

• O'Connor, K. E., Chan, G., & Saravanan, A. (2023). Associations between childhood trauma exposure, separation insecurity, and intimate partner violence victimization. SSRN. https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=4938734

• Rajkumar, E., Gopi, A., Hareesh, P. V., & Romate, J. (2024). Correlates of post-traumatic growth among persons bereaved from cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Plos One. https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0300291

• Stark, C., Tapia, J. L., Rogalla, K., & Bunch, K. (2024). Professional's guide to trauma-informed decision making. Springer. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-031-54626-6.pdf