Adult attachment, posttraumatic growth and negative emotions among former political prisoners

Abstract Although traumatic events are generally associated with negative psychosocial consequences, trauma survivors also report positive changes in themselves, human relationships and spirituality. Our aims are, first to study associations between exposure to torture and ill-treatment and posttraumatic growth and negative emotions, and second, to examine the role of adult attachment in moderating the association between exposure and positive growth. The participants were 275 Palestinian men imprisoned in a political context. They completed the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), adult attachment questionnaire (AAQ) and reported exposure to traumatic events. The results show that a high level of torture and ill-treatment was associated with a low level of posttraumatic growth and a high level of negative emotions. However, adult attachment style moderated that association, among men with secure attachment exposure to torture and ill-treatment was associated with a high level of posttraumatic growth, whereas among insecure-avoidant men exposure was associated with relatively higher level of negative emotions. Main effects show that men with secure attachment reported generally more posttraumatic growth, i.e., personal strength, positive affiliation to others and spiritual change, while insecure-preoccupied attachment was associated with negative emotions. Finally, favourable socio-economic characteristics were associated with posttraumatic growth: men with high professional position, steady employment, and good economic situation reported more personal strength and positive affiliation to others. Of demographic factors, only education was associated with attachment, secure men being more educated.