Attachment style, psychotic phenomena and the relationship with aggression: investigation in a general population sample

Whale, Katherine; Green, Kathleen; Browne, Kevin

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to explore the relationship between attachment style, sub-clinical symptoms of psychosis and aggression in a general population sample.
Design: Using both convenience and snowball sampling, participants in the community (n=213) completed an online questionnaire including previously validated measures of adult attachment, aggression and psychotic like events.
Findings: Results suggested that there were statistically significant correlations between all study variables. Multiple linear regression demonstrated that total psychotic-like experiences and attachment scores significantly predicted variance in total aggression. Moderation approaches revealed that the relationship between psychotic-like events and aggression was stronger in individuals with more insecure attachment styles.
Research limitations/implications: This generalisability of the results is compromised by the sampling methodology and the use of self-report tools. However, the significant results would support larger scale replications investigating similar variables.
Originality/value: This study suggests there is a relationship between psychotic like experiences and facets of aggression in the general population. The findings suggest that attachment is a contributing factor to aggression associated with psychotic like experiences, and highlight the need for similar investigations within clinical samples. The results imply that attachment may be a useful construct for explanatory models of the relationship between adverse childhood experiences, psychotic experiences and aggression.

Citation

Whale, K., Green, K., & Browne, K. (2019). Attachment style, psychotic phenomena and the relationship with aggression: investigation in a general population sample. Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, 11(1), 47-58. https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-04-2018-0356

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jul 19, 2018
• Online Publication Date: Aug 19, 2018
• Publication Date: 2019
• Deposit Date: Aug 24, 2018
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 24, 2018
• Journal: Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research
• Print ISSN: 1759-6599
• Publisher: Emerald
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 47-58
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-04-2018-0356
• Keywords: Risk, Aggression, Schizophrenia, Psychosis, Attachment, Trauma
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1047050
• Publisher URL: https://www.emeraldinsight.com/doi/pdfplus/10.1108/JACPR-04-2018-0356