Study on the relationships between precollege sexual abuse experiences at different stages and adult attachment in college students

Objective: To explore the association between precollege sexual abuse experiences at different periods and adult attachment in college students. Methods: In October 2018,a total of 4 034 college students were selected from 4 colleges in Hefei City by using the stratified cluster sampling method. A self-designed questionnaire was used to investigate the demographic characteristics, sexual abuse experience, and attachment style of participants. Multivariate linear regression analysis was performed to analyze the association between different periods, types of precollege sexual abuse experiences and attachment style in college students. Results: The rate of total precollege sexual abuse, noncontact sexual abuse, and contact sexual abuse was 14.1% (569), 12.7% (512) and 5.4% (219), respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed that secure attachment [β(95%CI)=-0.205 (-0.292, -0.117)] was negatively correlated with total precollege sexual abuse experiences, whereas anxiety attachment [β(95%CI)=0.211 (0.110, 0.310)], avoidant attachment [β(95%CI)=0.117 (0.020, 0.216)] were positively correlated with total precollege sexual abuse experiences. The number of periods of precollege noncontact sexual abuse was negatively correlated with secure attachment [β(95%CI)=-0.106(-0.171, -0.041)]and positively correlated with anxiety attachment [β(95%CI)=0.158 (0.084, 0.231)]and avoidant attachment [β(95%CI)=0.080 (0.008, 0.152)]. The noncontact [β(95%CI)=0.427 (0.018, 0.775)] and contact sexual abuse [β(95%CI)=0.468 (0.251, 0.687)] in high school were positively correlated with anxiety attachment (P<0.05). Conclusion: Different periods, types of precollege sexual abuse experiences were all associated with adult attachment in college students.