文摘
Effects of attachment behavior patterns on posttraumatic stress disorder and perceived recovery were studied among 30 female U.S. military personnel and veterans. Four attachment patterns of behavior were examined: secure,fearful,preoccupied,and dismissive. The purpose of the study was to examine which attachment patterns were most and least associated with vulnerability to PTSD,as well as which attachment patterns were associated with a lengthier perceived recovery time from PTSD. Three measures were used for assessment: the Relationship Questionnaire,the PTSD Checklist Civilian version (PCL-C),and the Recovery Assessment Scale. An additional,researcher-created tool was used to gather demographic information and data on the participants' perceptions of PTSD and recovery. The results of the study showed a relationship between the attachment patterns,PTSD,and perceived recovery time. Participants who reported secure attachment patterns showed a Pearson's correlation for a negative relationship with PTSD and a positive relationship with recovery. Participants who reported a fearful attachment pattern had a Pearson's correlation that indicated a positive relationship with PTSD and a negative relationship with recovery. The preoccupied and dismissive attachment patterns did not show a correlation with PTSD or perceived recovery. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was also used to test the effect of the attachment patterns on PTSD and perceived recovery. MANOVA results showed a significant difference on combined PTSD and recovery. Further analysis using a stepwise multiple regression showed that those participants who reported a fearful attachment pattern were vulnerable to PTSD and were perceived as resistant to recovery. Although the secure attachment pattern was shown as,a predictor related to both PTSD and perceived recovery,its variability was too small to enter the regression equation; thus,secure attachment data was excluded along with the preoccupied attachment and dismissive attachment pattern data. At least 1 attachment behavior pattern,fearful attachment,was shown to be associated with vulnerability to PTSD and resistance to recovery. Future research to broaden the understanding of attachment pattern effects on PTSD and recovery is recommended with a larger sample of female military personnel and tools to control for personality and affective comorbidities.