Emotional Abuse and Fear of Intimacy
Author Information
Author(s): Finzi-Dottan Ricky, Abadi Hila
Primary Institution: School of Social Work, Bar Ilan University
Hypothesis
Insecure attachment (anxious and/or avoidant) mediates the association between childhood emotional abuse and rejection sensitivity, which, in turn, is associated with fear of intimacy.
Conclusion
The study found that insecure attachment styles mediate the relationship between childhood emotional abuse and fear of intimacy.
Supporting Evidence
- Emotional abuse was positively related to avoidant or anxious attachment.
- Avoidant and anxious attachment negatively affected acceptance expectancy.
- Acceptance expectancy was linked to fear of intimacy.
- Participants reported a high internal consistency for the measures used.
- 29% of participants reported experiencing emotional abuse.
Takeaway
If someone experiences emotional abuse as a child, they might find it hard to get close to others when they grow up because they feel insecure about relationships.
Methodology
The study used self-report questionnaires to assess childhood emotional abuse, attachment styles, rejection sensitivity, and fear of intimacy among participants.
Potential Biases
Self-report questionnaires may introduce response bias, and the reliance on digital platforms for recruitment could affect the results.
Limitations
The study's cross-sectional design limits conclusions about causality, and the convenience sampling may not represent the general population.
Participant Demographics
Participants included 126 women and 54 men, aged 21-30, with varying educational backgrounds and economic statuses.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.005
Confidence Interval
[0.15, 0.50]
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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