Nagtegaal, Maaike (2026) Childhood Sexual Abuse and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: Examining the Role of Avoidant Attachment. Master thesis, Psychology.
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Abstract
The current study investigated whether there is a relationship between childhood sexual abuse (CSA) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and whether avoidant attachment plays a moderating role in this relationship. These insights may contribute to a more refined understanding of why some CSA victims experience more severe PTSD symptoms than others. Female first-year students (N = 237) with an average age of 20 years (SD = 2.93) completed the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire – Short Form (CTQ-SF), PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5), and Experiences in Close Relationships Scale – Revised (ECR-R). The results showed a weak but significant positive relationship between CSA and PTSD symptoms, but no significant moderating effect of avoidant attachment on this relationship. These findings add to the existing evidence supporting CSA as a predictor of PTSD, but also underscore the multifaceted nature of PTSD, shaped by a wide range of factors occurring before, during, and after trauma. Further research is needed to examine the role of avoidant attachment and other potential moderators within other samples, to gain a more refined understanding of which risk factors are involved in the relationship between CSA and PTSD symptoms. Considering the negative impact of PTSD on both individual and societal level, such insights could be valuable for more accurate diagnostic assessments and the development of potential preventive strategies for PTSD.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Supervisor name: | Daniels, J.K. |
| Degree programme: | Psychology |
| Differentiation route: | Clinical Psychology (CP) [Master Psychology] |
| Date Deposited: | 10 Mar 2026 10:20 |
| Last Modified: | 10 Mar 2026 10:20 |
| URI: | http://gmwpublic.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/6313 |
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