The role of psychological flexibility in the effects of adverse childhood experiences and interparental conflict on adult insecure attachment

Childhood experiences play a crucial role in shaping adult relationships, and can have lasting effects on emotional well-being. Childhood adversities are believed to contribute to relationship issues, including fear of intimacy and anxiety about abandonment; however, this association can be elucidated through several mediating pathways. The purpose of this study was to examine the mediating role of psychological flexibility in the effects of adverse childhood experiences and perceived parental conflict on adult insecure attachment. Among the 505 participants, 345 (68.3%) were female and 160 (31.7%) were male, with an average age of 23.8 years. For data collection, the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory-Revised, the Personalized Psychological Flexibility Inventory, the Children's Perception of Interparental Conflict Scale, the Childhood Psychological Trauma Questionnaire, and the Demographic Information Form were used. Structural Equation Modeling was used to examine the relationships between the research variables. According to the analysis results, the hypothetical theoretical model was confirmed by showing good fit values. Psychological flexibility was identified as a significant mediator in the relationship between interparental conflict and adult insecure attachment. However, psychological flexibility did not serve as a mediator in the association between adverse childhood experiences and insecure attachment. These findings highlight the significance of psychological flexibility and its components, offering a foundation for future research and evidence for clinical interventions targeting romantic relationship problems and childhood adversities. The findings were discussed in the light of information in the literature.