Attachment Styles Predicting Posttsunami Trauma: The Mediating Effects of Coping

This study examined whether tsunami survivors’ coping styles mediate the effects of attachment styles on posttsunami trauma. Four hundred and sixteen survivors were interviewed from Tamil Nadu (India) 14 months posttsunami. Attachment style, coping, and posttsunami trauma were assessed using inventories, and exposure was assessed using a checklist. The female and the more exposed survivors experienced more posttsunami trauma. After controlling the effects of disaster exposure and gender, high fearfully attached persons had more trauma, used more problem-focused coping, and less active and avoidant emotional coping. High dismissively attached persons had less trauma, used less problem-focused coping, and more active and avoidant emotional coping. Attachment styles are related to trauma and coping styles, but indirect effects of attachment styles via coping styles do not predict posttsunami trauma.