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Updated: Jul 26, 2025

Psychophysiological Assessment of the Effectiveness of Emotion Regulation Strategies in Childhood
Published on: February 11, 2017
Adverse childhood experiences and insecure attachment: The indirect effects of dissociation and emotion regulation
Kaitlin S Snyder1, Andrew F Luchner1, Stacey Tantleff-Dunn1
1Department of Psychology, Rollins College.
Objective:
Difficulties with dissociation and emotion regulation are well-documented reactions to early adverse childhood experiences (ACEs). Although findings identify dissociation and emotion dysregulation as explaining the relationship between various forms of ACEs and adult psychopathology, less is known about their combined effect in the relationship between ACEs and insecure attachment in adulthood. This study examined the indirect effects of dissociation and emotion regulation difficulties in the relationship between early adverse experiences and insecure attachment traits.
Method:
Participants (N = 260) completed an online questionnaire measuring ACEs, dissociation, emotion regulation difficulties, and anxious and avoidant attachment.
Results:
Results indicated that, after controlling for mental health treatment, dissociation and emotion regulation difficulties explained the relationship between ACEs and insecure (anxious and avoidant) attachment. Emotion regulation difficulties were not a significant predictor of avoidant attachment.
Conclusion:
Findings provide support for greater research on mediating factors in the maintenance of insecure attachment across development and potential implications of dissociation and emotion regulation in clinical and nonclinical populations. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).
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