Attachment insecurity accounts for the relationship between maternal and paternal maltreatment and adolescent health

Objectives: Maltreatment is linked with poor health outcomes. Attachment and affect regulation may mitigate the long-term impact of these adverse experiences on health outcomes. Little is known about the relative impact of maternal versus paternal maltreatment and interparental violence (IPV) on general health status of female and male youth. Method: The present study examined the impact of exposure to maternal and paternal emotional and physical maltreatment, neglect, IPV, and cumulative maltreatment exposure in adolescence on general physical health problems reported five years later. High-risk youth (N = 179; Mage = 15.34, SD = 1.53; 46.4% female) self-reported maltreatment experiences, attachment insecurity, and affect dysregulation at Time 1; and affect dysregulation and physical health five years later at Time 2. Results: Attachment insecurity accounted for the effect of maternal and paternal emotional maltreatment, and maternal and paternal cumulative maltreatment exposure, on physical health. Additionally, attachment insecurity accounted for the effect of paternal neglect on physical health. Further sex differences were found with regard to maltreatment type and are discussed. Conclusion: Both maternal and paternal maltreatment in adolescence predicted poor general health five years later via attachment insecurity. Youth who lack a secure attachment with their parents are most vulnerable to these impacts.