The Role of Attachment Style in Predicting Emotional Abuse and Sexual Coercion in Gay and Lesbian People: An Explorative Study

Abstract

This study was based on exploring the role of attachment style related to emotional abuse and sexual coercion in a sample of people who are gay and lesbian. A total of 182 young adults, from 18 to 25 years old (58% females, M = 22.42, Sd = 1.91), participated. Participants completed the multidimensional measure of emotional abuse to investigate emotional abuse (acted and suffered), the sexual coercion in intimate relationship scale (acted) to evaluate sexual coercion, and attachment style to investigate interpersonal attachment. The model shows that the secure attachment style is negatively connected with coercion of resources and violence, as well as acted emotional abuse. Discomfort with closeness is negatively connected with coercion of resources and violence. Need for approval is positively connected with coercion of resources and violence, as well as with manipulation. Preoccupation with relationships is negatively connected with manipulation and acted emotional abuse and is positively connected with commitment defection and suffered emotional abuse. Finally, relationship as being secondary is positively connected with suffered emotional abuse. Our results show that an inadequate attachment style in homosexual couples is responsible for sexual coercion and emotional abuse, both in males and females. Theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.