Examining the associations among lifetime interpersonal trauma, attachment, and romantic relationship conflict

Conflicts can be a common occurrence in relationships, and poor conflict management can have negative consequences for relationship satisfaction, mental health, and relationship longevity. Both interpersonal trauma exposure and insecure attachment style have been independently linked with impairments in interpersonal functioning and poor conflict management. However, there is little research that simultaneously examines how trauma and attachment are associated with relationship conflict management. The present study aimed to address this gap and expand upon current literature by simultaneously assessing these associations among a sample of college students in established romantic relationships (N = 365) using structural equation modeling. Measurement of a latent factor of insecure attachment was supported, and insecure attachment was significantly positively associated with interpersonal trauma. Interpersonal trauma did not predict conflict management strategies in the full model; however, insecure attachment was significantly negatively associated with compromise and positively associated with interactional reactivity, domination, submission, and separation. The results of this study contribute to our knowledge of relational difficulties and trauma among college students and have important implications for treatment for individuals in romantic relationships with conflict management concerns.