Experiencing adverse events in childhood, such as abuse, neglect, or household dysfunction, has long been understood to influence a person’s emotional and psychological development.
Many assume that such experiences in early childhood would naturally have more severe consequences later in life, but new evidence challenges this assumption, particularly when it comes to attachment in romantic relationships and general social interactions.
A groundbreaking study published in the journal Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin by psychologist Moriah G. Zumdahl and colleagues from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign questions common assumptions about adverse childhood experiences (ACEs).
The study specifically investigates whether the timing of negative experiences like abuse, neglect, or witnessing violence significantly influences our attachment styles as adults.
Attachment insecurity refers to difficulties in feeling safe, accepted, and supported in relationships, often manifesting as anxiety about abandonment or discomfort with intimacy.
Previous research has shown that individuals who experience ACEs often struggle with higher levels of anxiety and avoidance in their relationships.
Yet, assumptions that adversity in early childhood is inherently more damaging have rarely been directly tested.
Zumdahl and her team conducted an extensive study involving 7,135 adults recruited internationally via an online personality survey platform.
Participants reported on 14 types of adverse childhood experiences and indicated the age when they first occurred.
They also completed assessments measuring attachment anxiety (fear of abandonment) and avoidance (discomfort with intimacy) in various relationship contexts: with parents, romantic partners, and generally.
The results challenged some widely held beliefs.
Surprisingly, the timing of ACEs had minimal influence on attachment anxiety or avoidance in romantic and general relationships.
Instead, researchers found that childhood adversity – no matter when it happened – was consistently linked to increased attachment insecurity.
However, when it came to parental relationships, timing mattered significantly.
Experiences like emotional neglect or having a mentally ill household member were especially impactful if they occurred earlier in childhood.
Participants who faced emotional abuse, peer rejection, or parental mental illness earlier in life reported notably higher levels of insecurity with their mothers and fathers.
“Our findings suggest early childhood may indeed be a critical period, but specifically for how we bond with our parents,” explained Zumdahl. “Yet, surprisingly, romantic and general attachment insecurities seem to develop independently of when these difficult experiences occur.”
These findings align more closely with classic attachment theory, suggesting early childhood is indeed a critical period for establishing secure parental bonds.
Yet, this vulnerability appears less influential when it comes to adult romantic relationships or general attachment orientations.
These insights have important real-world implications.
They indicate that trauma-informed interventions may be effective at any life stage for improving romantic or general relationship security.
However, reducing parental attachment insecurity likely requires early preventive measures or interventions shortly after adverse events.
This study invites a broader conversation about ACEs, emphasizing that while timing matters in specific contexts, the lifelong impact of childhood adversity broadly underscores the necessity for ongoing emotional support systems.
Such findings challenge conventional wisdom, urging society to reconsider not just how we understand childhood trauma but how we act to heal its lasting effects.
Citation
Zumdahl, M. G., Saxsma, M. G., & Fraley, R. C. (2025). Adult Attachment Outcomes and the Timing of Adverse Childhood Experiences. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 01461672251336491. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672251336
