The Role of Timing of Developmental Trauma and Impacts on Attachment in African-Caribbean American Women: A Holistic Perspective

Prior studies have shown that developmental trauma exposure in childhood negatively impacts attachment neurocircuitry, increasing risk for insecure attachments in adulthood, and deemed more prevalent among females and minorities, such as African American women. However, studies that specifically focus on ethnocultural contexts, initial developmental trauma exposure during specific developmental ages, and impacts on attachment, including attachment to God in African-Caribbean American women are limited. This study fulfilled those gaps in the literature by examining age of initial developmental trauma exposure and impacts on attachment with self and God in African-Caribbean American adult women with developmental trauma histories. Bioecological systems theory, psychosocial theory, attachment theory, and reformational worldview were the supporting theoretical and biblical frameworks for this study. A quantitative cross-sectional study utilizing correlational analyses with four online, anonymous questionnaires was conducted. Total participants were N = 131 African-Caribbean American women from various African-Caribbean backgrounds, aged 20-70. Of this total, n = 88 reported developmental trauma histories and n = 43 reported no developmental trauma history. Participants were recruited from Facebook, email, and flyers. Results showed early childhood developmental trauma exposure was significantly associated with disorganized, anxious, and avoidant attachments in trauma-exposed women. Emotional, physical, and child sexual abuse and physical neglect were significantly associated with all insecure attachment types in trauma-exposed women. Trauma-exposed women had higher insecure attachments than non-trauma-exposed women and both groups showed higher anxious about abandonment attachment to God. Implications of these findings for public policies, trauma-informed care, and psychospiritual considerations for the church are discussed.