Abstract
South Africa, as a developing country, is characterized by high levels of crime, partner violence,
and other traumatic experiences. Exposure to these traumas may lead to the development of
post-traumatic stress disorder or, conversely, post-traumatic growth. Citizens in developing
African countries appear to be at risk for the development of insecure attachment styles due to
the cumulative effects of socio-economic risk factors. The prevalence of many possible traumatic
experiences along with the risk of more insecure attachments set the stage for investigating
the impact of insecure attachment on post-traumatic growth. The aim of this study was thus to
determine whether two insecure attachment styles, namely anxious and avoidant attachment,
were significant predictors of post-traumatic growth. The sample consisted of 233 undergraduate
students from a South African university who had experienced a traumatic event. Participants’
ages ranged from 18 to 33years (M=21years) and were from various ethnic backgrounds (81.5%
Black African, 7.7% White, 9% Coloured, and 3.9% Asian/Indian). Two self-report measures were
administered via an online survey to assess attachment styles and post-traumatic growth. Results
showed that an anxious attachment style was a significant negative predictor of post-traumatic
growth. Furthermore, individuals with an avoidant attachment style were significantly less likely
to experience post-traumatic growth through relating to others, than along the other domains of
post-traumatic growth. The findings contribute by highlighting the importance of considering how
insecure attachment styles may impact post-traumatic growth, as this could inform the treatment
of trauma victims.