The links between posttraumatic stress, attachment patterns and quality of life in incarcerated and addicted women. The role of resilience.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to determine the relationships between negative as well as traumatic childhood experiences and posttraumatic stress, quality of life and attachment in addicted and/or incarcerated women.

Methods: Family of Origin Dysfunction Scale (Skala Dysfunkcjonalności Rodziny Pochodzenia, SDRP-2) by Gąsior, Trauma Symptom Inventory (TSI-2) by Briere, Adult Attachment Scale (AAS) by Collins and Read, Life Satisfaction Questionnaire by Fahrenberg et al., and Resilience Measure Questionnaire (Kwestionariusz Oceny Prężności, KOP-26) by Gąsior, Chodkiewicz and Cechowski. The study group comprised incarcerated and/or addicted women.

Results: There is a link between intensification of childhood trauma and posttraumatic stress, quality of life and attachment. The link is diverse depending on interrelations between threatening and protective factors.

Conclusions: The highest intensity of childhood traumatic experiences occurs in women who are both incarcerated and addicted. Traumatic childhood experiences are linked with both the symptoms of the posttraumatic stress and insecure attachment patterns. Resilience is an important protective factor which guards against psychopathological problems.