Attachment anxiety mediates effects of childhood abuse on parental confidence

A study in Belgium found that maternal attachment anxiety mediates the link between childhood maltreatment and parental sense of competence. Mothers who were maltreated as children were more likely to develop an anxious attachment style. This attachment style, in turn, was associated with lower parental sense of efficacy and parental sense of satisfaction. The paper was published in Child Abuse & Neglect.

Attachment anxiety and avoidance are two common patterns of insecure attachment that develop from early relationships with caregivers. Attachment anxiety involves a strong fear of abandonment and a constant need for reassurance and closeness. People with high attachment anxiety often worry that others don’t truly care about them or will leave them.

In contrast, attachment avoidance is marked by discomfort with intimacy and a preference for emotional distance. Avoidant individuals tend to downplay the importance of relationships and rely heavily on self-sufficiency. Both patterns can make it difficult to form healthy, secure relationships in adulthood. The effects of these attachment styles are not limited to romantic or close relationships—they can also influence how people respond to stress, express emotions, and seek support.

Study authors Manon Delhalle and Adelaïde Blavier aimed to investigate whether romantic attachment patterns mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and parental sense of competence. This sense of competence refers to a parent’s belief in their ability to effectively manage and fulfill the demands of parenting. It includes three dimensions: parental sense of efficacy, satisfaction, and interest. The authors hypothesized that levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance would mediate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and parental sense of competence.

Participants were 1,904 mothers recruited from the community in Belgium. They were required to have at least one child between the ages of 3 and 8 years and to speak French. Fifty-three percent of these mothers reported experiencing at least one form of childhood maltreatment. Of these, 69% experienced multiple types. Emotional abuse and emotional neglect were the most common. Twenty-three percent reported sexual abuse, and 18% reported physical abuse.

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The mothers completed an online survey that included assessments of childhood maltreatment (the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire – Short Form), parental sense of competence (the Parenting Sense of Competence scale), and attachment patterns (the Relationship Scale Questionnaire).

Results showed that attachment anxiety—but not avoidance—was negatively associated with parental sense of competence. In other words, individuals with higher levels of attachment anxiety tended to report lower levels of parenting efficacy and satisfaction. This pattern did not extend to parental interest. Interestingly, individuals with higher levels of attachment avoidance reported slightly higher levels of parental efficacy, but avoidance was not associated with the other two components of parenting competence or with overall parental sense of competence.

Participants who reported more severe nonsexual childhood maltreatment also tended to report higher levels of attachment anxiety and, to a lesser extent, avoidance. Those who experienced childhood sexual abuse reported somewhat higher attachment anxiety, but no link was found with avoidance.

The researchers tested a statistical model proposing that childhood maltreatment increases romantic attachment anxiety, which in turn reduces parental sense of competence. The results supported this model. Additionally, women who experienced more childhood maltreatment also tended to have slightly lower education levels, slightly lower household income, and a slightly higher number of children.
“The findings highlight that attachment anxiety constitutes a risk factor for mothers who have a history of childhood maltreatment. Mothers who have experienced childhood maltreatment and have subsequently developed attachment anxiety tend to report lower levels of satisfaction and efficacy in their parenting roles. Thus, our results suggest that preventive assistance should especially target childhood maltreatment victims experiencing difficulties in their interpersonal relationships,” the study authors concluded.

The study sheds light on how attachment patterns shape parenting experiences. However, it should be noted that all data—including childhood maltreatment and attachment—were self-reported and retrospective, introducing the possibility of recall bias. Additionally, the cross-sectional design does not permit conclusions about causality.

The paper, “Child maltreatment, adult romantic attachment and parental sense of competence,” was authored by Manon Delhalle and Adelaïde Blavier.