The role of enmeshment and undeveloped self, subjugation and self-sacrifice in childhood trauma and attachment related problems: The relationship with self-concept clarity

BACKGROUND: Schema Theory posits that childhood trauma and unmet emotional needs lead to the formation of Early Maladaptive Schemas (EMS). However, the connection between EMS and self-concept clarity remains unexplored.

OBJECTIVE: This study examines how three specific EMS- 1. Enmeshment and Undeveloped Self, 2. Subjugation, and 3. Self-Sacrifice-, relate to childhood trauma, attachment related problems, and self-concept clarity.

PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: University students (N = 360) completed Self-report questionnaires on these constructs.

METHODS: Path models were fitted to the total scores to test whether the three EMS mediated the association between childhood trauma, attachment problems and self-concept clarity.

RESULTS: Childhood trauma was directly related to each of the three EMS, which all mediated the association between trauma and attachment anxiety. Subjugation additionally mediated the relation between trauma and attachment avoidance. Both insecure attachment styles were directly related to self-concept clarity. Attachment anxiety mediated the association between each EMS and self-concept clarity, whereas the effect of subjugation was additionally mediated by attachment avoidance.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on the results, we can conclude that childhood trauma is related to insecure attachment styles and to self-concept clarity, and that this relation is mediated by all three EMS.