Assessment Of The Influence Of Childhood Trauma On Adult Attachment Styles Among Female Inmates: A Case Of Lang’ata Women’s Prison, Nairobi County, Kenya
Loading...
Date
2023-10
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Traumas help shape the attachment styles developed by adults later on in life. The increase in criminal behavior by women led this study to assess the influence of childhood trauma on adult attachment styles among female inmates: a case of Lang’ata Women’s Prison, Nairobi County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were: determine the prevalence of childhood trauma among female inmates in Lang'ata Women's Prison; establish the attachment styles of female inmates; investigate the psychological effects of childhood trauma on attachment styles among female inmates; and assess the relationship between childhood trauma and attachment styles among female inmates. The study was guided by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs theory and Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development. The study adopted a descriptive research design. The target population was 600 inmates at Lang’ata Women’s Prison from whom a sample of 220 was chosen. Data was collected using a Childhood Trauma Questionnaire and Adult Attachment Scale. Pretesting was done for reliability and validity and descriptive data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), version 26. The findings suggested that the female inmates were exposed to physical neglect, emotional neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional abuse during childhood. They also exhibited the psychological effects of childhood trauma. The study concluded that childhood trauma led to the development of insecure adult attachment styles. The recommendations of the study included: prisons offering counseling sessions and the creation of a trauma-free environment for the inmates. Furthermore, a similar study was recommended to be carried out in another set-up such as a school and workplace to ascertain whether the impact from this study will be similar.
Description
Masters Thesis
Keywords
Childhood Trauma, Adult Attachment, Female Inmates, Lang’ata Women’s Prison, Nairobi County, Kenya
Citation
Benta W. M,. (2023, Thesis). Assessment Of The Influence Of Childhood Trauma On Adult Attachment Styles Among Female Inmates: A Case Of Lang’ata Women’s Prison, Nairobi County, Kenya