Latent Profiles of Primary Emotional Systems and Their Associations with PTSD, CPTSD, Attachment, and Childhood Adversity

Adverse childhood experiences are associated with trauma-related psychopathology, but individual differences in affective organization may contribute to heterogeneous outcomes. This study aimed to identify latent profiles of primary emotional systems and examine their associations with attachment, childhood maltreatment, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD). A community sample of 917 Portuguese adults completed measures of primary emotional systems, adult attachment, childhood maltreatment, and PTSD/CPTSD symptoms. Latent profile analyses were conducted separately for women and men, followed by measurement invariance testing and multinomial logistic regression analyses. Four profiles were identified in both sexes: Negative Affect, Low Affective Activation, Balanced Affective Functioning, and Positive Affect. Partial measurement invariance indicated sex-related differences in ANGER, FEAR, and PANIC, while the overall profile structure was comparable across sexes. Negative Affect was associated with PTSD, CPTSD, and fearful attachment in both sexes. Low Affective Activation was associated with CPTSD and dismissing attachment, with additional associations varying by sex. The findings indicate that primary emotional systems form heterogeneous configurations that are differentially associated with developmental, interpersonal, and clinical characteristics. Person-centered assessment may complement symptom-based approaches, although causal inference and profile stability cannot be established.