The professionals’ perspective on the impact of maternal childhood sexual abuse and attachment patterns with future offspring

Abstract

In this study the Dynamic Maturational Model (DMM) of attachment and adaptation was used as a base for understanding the attachment patterns utilised by survivors of sexual abuse. Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a traumatic event, the consequences of which have been linked to poorer attachment security in relationships (Murphy et al., 2014), and impaired attachment patterns with future offspring (Kendall Tackett, 2001; Iyengar et al., 2014). However, recent studies have shown that attachment patterns are more complex and unique to the individual’s experience than was previously believed (Crittenden, 2005a). The aim of this research was to understand the link between Maternal CSA and attachment patterns of the survivor, as well as the intergenerational transmission of attachment patterns to one’s offspring. Five semi-structured interviews were conducted with professionals who have worked with survivors of sexual abuse. Thematic Analysis was utilised and three themes were extracted from the interviews: Attachment Patterns, Factors influencing Attachment Patterns, and Factors influencing the intergenerational transmission of attachment. One’s attachment patterns are influenced by internal and external factors, as well as idiosyncratic experiences. The possibility of a mother passing on her attachment strategies is further dependent on a variety of elements, such as her ability to sensitively parent her child, whether she suffers from mental health issues, and her child’s genetic predisposition. The DMM was a useful tool for understanding the different kinds of attachment, and the characteristics of the individuals who use them. The results of this study support the view that attachment is an interactional process, meaning it works both ways, and is dependent on the interaction of both parent’s, and the child’s traits (Rees, 2005).