The impact of intimate partner violence on psychological well-being: predictors of posttraumatic stress disorder and the mediating role of insecure attachment styles

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms have been linked to intimate partner violence (IPV).However, not all victims develop these problems. This study analyzed the effects of different types of IPVand of attachment styles on PTSD symptoms, and tested insecure attachment styles as mediators in theIPV-PTSD link in a sample of Portuguese women including victims and non-victims of IPV (n = 209).Differences between women with versus women without IPV in PTSD symptoms and in attachmentstyles were also examined. Women who reported IPV also reported more PTSD symptoms and moreattachment anxiety than those who reported no IPV. Psychological aggression, physical violence withinjury, and attachment anxiety contributed significantly to PTSD symptoms, while less attachmentdependency had a negative association with PTSD symptoms, after controlling for socio-demographicfactors. Attachment anxiety and attachment dependency partially mediated the association betweenphysical violence with injury and PTSD symptoms. This study shows the impact of IPV on mental healthand stresses the role of attachment anxiety as a risk factor for PTSD symptoms, highlighting the need todesign effective interventions that address this specific attachment pattern in psychotherapy to reducePTSD symptoms among victims of IPV.