Secondary traumatization and attachment among wives of former POWs: a longitudinal study |
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| Authors: | Yael Lahav Yaniv Kanat-Maymon Zahava Solomon |
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| Institution: | 1. Department of Psychology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark;2. I-Core Research Center for Mass Trauma, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel;3. Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya, School of Psychology, Herzliya, Israel;4. I-Core Research Center for Mass Trauma, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel;5. Bob Shapell School of Social Work, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel |
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| Abstract: | The aim of the present study was to examine the directionality of the association between post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS) and attachment insecurities across time among indirect trauma survivors. Wives of former prisoners of war (ex-POWs), with and without post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and comparable controls were assessed 30 (T1) and 38 (T2) years after the Yom Kippur War. As expected, wives of ex-POWs endorsed higher PTSS compared to wives of controls. Wives of ex-POWs with PTSD endorsed higher PTSS and higher attachment avoidance compared to wives of ex-POWs without PTSD and controls. There were significant associations between PTSS and attachment insecurities. Contrary to the hypothesis, the relationship between PTSS and attachment insecurities among wives of ex-POWs was unidirectional, with attachment anxiety at T1 predicting PTSS at T2, and not vice versa. Results indicate that attachment anxiety might act as a risk factor for secondary traumatic reactions. |
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| Keywords: | secondary traumatization post-traumatic stress symptoms attachment prisoners of war PTSD |
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