The relationship between childhood traumas and attachment styles in individuals in romantic relationships

The aim of this study is to examine childhood traumas and attachment patterns in individuals in romantic relationships. For this purpose, the relationships between attachment patterns and childhood traumas were examined. The sub-objectives of the study include investigating whether attachment patterns and childhood traumas vary according to variables such as gender, age, educational status, duration of romantic relationships, and relationship satisfaction. The sample of the study consisted of 459 individuals in romantic relationships. For data collection, Demographic Information Form, the Attachment in Interpersonal Relationships Scale, and the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ-33) were employed to create the survey form. The collected data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS v.27 software package. The findings of the study revealed a negative and significant relationship between the Insecure-Avoidant Attachment subscale and the Sexual Abuse subscale, and a negative and significant relationship between the Insecure-Avoidant Attachment subscale and the Insecure Anxious Attachment subscale. A positive and significant relationship was found between the Sexual Abuse subscale and the Emotional Neglect subscale. It was observed that there was no differentiation according to the Education Status variable in the subscales of the Attachment in Interpersonal Relationships Scale, but there was differentiation in the Physical Neglect subscale of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. According to the Relationship Duration variable, differences were found in the Insecure-Anxious and Insecure-Avoidant subscales of the Attachment in Interpersonal Relationships Scale, but no differentiation was found in the subscales of the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire. No significant differences were found in the variables of gender, age, and relationship satisfaction.