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. 2020 Feb;17(2):122-129.
doi: 10.30773/pi.2019.0165. Epub 2020 Feb 13.

High Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System Sensitivity, Childhood Emotional Neglect and Their Interaction as Possible Related Factors for Adult Attachment Style in Depression

Hyu Jung Huh  1 , Bo Ram Jeong  1 , Ji Hyun Hwang  2 , Jeong-Ho Chae  2   3
Affiliations

High Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Activation System Sensitivity, Childhood Emotional Neglect and Their Interaction as Possible Related Factors for Adult Attachment Style in Depression

Hyu Jung Huh et al. Psychiatry Investig. 2020 Feb.

Abstract

Objective: Individual differences in attachment insecurity are important in a broad range of mental health problems. However, few empirical studies have examined the clinical factors that contribute to individual differences in attachment style. This study examines the nature of interrelationships among adult attachment styles, sensitivities of behavioral activation system/behavioral inhibition system (BIS/BAS), and childhood trauma in patients with depressive disorders.

Methods: Patients with depressive disorders (n=294) completed self-report questionnaires evaluating adult attachment style, childhood trauma, and BIS/BAS sensitivity. We performed multiple regression analyses to examine the associations between attachment style and other clinical factors, including childhood trauma and BIS/BAS sensitivity. We also conducted hierarchical regression analyses and simple slope analyses to examine the interaction between BIS/BAS sensitivity and childhood trauma.

Results: The BAS sensitivity was negatively associated with attachment avoidance. The higher was the BIS/BAS sensitivity, the higher was the level of attachment anxiety. Among childhood trauma, emotional neglect contributed to both dimensions of insecure attachment. The interaction between BAS sensitivity and emotional neglect is significantly associated with attachment anxiety.

Conclusion: This study used data regarding the interrelationship of childhood trauma and basic motivational systems to contribute to the understanding of adult insecure attachment behaviors, a risk factor for depression.

Keywords: Attachment; Behavioral activation system; Behavioral inhibition system; Childhood trauma; Depression.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no potential conflicts of interest to disclose.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Hypothesized model about interrelation among BIS/ BAS sensitivity, childhood trauma and adult attachment style. BAS: behavioral activation system, BIS: behavioral inhibition system.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Interaction effect of BAS sensitivity and childhood emotional neglect on adult attachment style.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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