Adult attachment, perceived stress, and PTSD among civilians exposed to ongoing terrorist attacks in Southern Israel

This study examined the relationships among exposure to terrorism, individual differences in adult attachment dimensions, perceived stress, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). A representative sample of 254 adults who had experienced more than 7 years of ongoing exposure (OGE) to rocket and mortar fire in southern Israel was compared to 308 individuals with no exposure (NE) to terrorism. OGE individuals reported significantly elevated levels of insecure attachment, perceived stress, and PTSD-symptoms as compared to the NE individuals. The associations between perceived stress and PTSD-symptoms were significantly stronger in the OGE group, compared to the NE group. For OGE individuals, the elevated level of perceived stress mediated the association between Attachment Anxiety and PTSD-symptoms. Theoretical and clinical implications of the findings are discussed.