A Study on the Structural Relationship between Attachment Trauma, Internalized Shame, and Interpersonal Relationship Problems: Focusing on the Moderating Effect of Experiential Avoidance

Objectives The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the level of experiential avoidance upon each of the influential relationships where attachment trauma in early adulthood impacts internalized shame and interpersonal relationship problems. Methods For this purpose, the researcher surveyed 303 adult males and females in their 20s and 30s across South Korea, and the responses were analyzed using SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 26.0 programs. Results First, attachment trauma in early adulthood had a significant and positive impact on internalized shame. Second, attachment trauma in early adulthood had a significant and positive impact on interpersonal relationship problems. Third, internalized shame in early adulthood had a significant and positive impact on interpersonal relationship problems. Fourth, in the relationship between attachment trauma in early adulthood and interpersonal relationship problems, internalized shame turned out to have a significant mediating effect. Fifth, in the paths of early adulthood, namely attachment trauma -> internalized shame and internalized shame -> interpersonal relationship problems, it was found that experiential avoidance had a significant moderating effect. Conclusions The findings of this study indicate that when a patient in his early adulthood complains about interpersonal relationship problems and has attachment trauma, a different therapeutic approach needs to be employed. Especially in a group where the level of experiential avoidance is higher, it is necessary to help understand the roles of the experiential avoidance they use.