Attachment style and psychopathology in adolescent victims of child maltreatment

The aims of this study were to examine whether the experiences of maltreatment in childhood have an influence on attachment and psychopathology, as well as to explore differences between maltreated adolescents with different types of protective intervention. The study included 69 maltreated adolescents in residential child care, 75 adolescent victims of moderate maltreatment living with their biological families under treatment, and 174 non-maltreated adolescents. Results reveal that being maltreated before the age of 13 years is a risk factor for insecure attachment and psychopathology in adolescence. In addition, we found some differences in psychopathology between the two maltreated groups, which could be the consequence of different defensive strategies associated with attachment style.