Attachment style and broken attachments

Abstract

Women-centred experiences of pregnancy, abortion, and violence have an intrinsic link with attachment issues. Yet they generally have not been researched in the context of attachment theory or attachment style differences. Findings from 96 pregnant women presenting for an early abortion indicated a general pattern of anxious women reporting the most adverse life circumstances, and physiologically and psychologically demanding experiences, including the highest incidence of violence, pregnancy, abortion, emotional problems, and poor education. Secure attachment demonstrated the least association with such experiences. Secure attachment was associated with fewer pregnancies and abortions, a lower incidence of both violence and emotional problems, and higher educational attainment. Discussion centres on the possibility that pregnancy may be uniquely placed to highlight more complex attachment processes. Links between insecure attachment, maternal ambivalence, multiple models, and trauma/violence may best be pursued via a collaboration of attachment and posttraumatic stress frameworks.