Attachment insecurity as an explanatory mechanism in the link between childhood emotional abuse and self-satisfaction

Abstract Childhood emotional abuse has been consistently linked to lower subjective well-being. This cross-sectional study investigated the explanatory role of anxious and avoidant attachment dimensions in the association between childhood emotional abuse and self-satisfaction, a recently defined component of subjective well-being. Participants were 486 university students (60.2% female; M = 21.17, SD = 1.60). Data were collected using the Psychological Maltreatment Questionnaire, the Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory-II, and the Self-Satisfaction Scale. Structural equation modeling with bootstrapping showed that childhood emotional abuse was positively associated with both attachment anxiety and avoidance, and negatively associated with self-satisfaction. Both attachment dimensions accounted for a significant portion of the indirect association. The confidence intervals for the indirect effects overlapped, suggesting no significant difference in the magnitude of the indirect effects. Childhood emotional abuse retained a significant direct negative association with lower self-satisfaction beyond the influence of attachment insecurity. These findings emphasize that emotional abuse in childhood impairs individuals’ capacity for self-satisfaction via a mechanism that amplifies the negative effect through attachment insecurity. Interventions fostering secure attachment and a positive self-view may help mitigate the long-term impact of early emotional abuse.