Broken Trust in Childhood, Bonds Formed in Adulthood: The Effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Attachment Styles

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between adverse childhood experiences (ACE) and adult attachment styles, and whether the duration of psychotherapy affects this relationship. Methods: This study is a cross-sectional research conducted with 260 adults aged 18–65 living in Turkey. Participants completed a Personal Information Form, the ACE Scale, and the Three-Dimensional Attachment Styles Scale. Analyses were conducted using SPSS, including descriptive statistics, group comparisons, Pearson correlations, and hierarchical moderation regression.Results: ACE scores were positively associated with anxious–ambivalent attachment, whereas no significant association was found with avoidant or secure attachment. Anxious–ambivalent attachment was significantly predicted by ACE scores after controlling for sociodemographic variables. Avoidant attachment scores were higher among men, married participants, and employed individuals. ACE and anxious attachment levels were higher in participants with lower income. Psychotherapy duration did not moderate the relationship between ACE and anxious–ambivalent attachment.Conclusion: The findings indicate that adverse childhood experiences are primarily associated with insecure attachment patterns in adulthood, particularly anxious–ambivalent attachment, rather than secure attachment.Practice implications: Early identification of childhood adversity and attachment-related risk factors is essential in pediatric and child mental health nursing. Attachment-informed nursing interventions may contribute to preventive mental health strategies across the lifespan.