Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Attachment Styles among Adolescents: Case of Selected Public Secondary Schools in Kibra Sub- County, Nairobi County, Kenya

Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences are often linked to the greater attachment insecurity that is displayed by many adult individuals who grew up in a very hostile environment. Their relationship and association become the subject of discussion with calls for stakeholder involvement to save adolescent victims. Thus, the study objective was to establish the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and attachment styles among adolescents in selected public secondary schools in Kibra Sub-county, Nairobi County, Kenya. The study's specific objectives were to determine the prevalence of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACESs) among adolescents in public secondary schools in Kibra Sub-county, to analyze the attachment styles among adolescents in public secondary schools in Kibra Subcounty and to determine how adverse childhood experiences (ACE’s) affected attachment styles among adolescents in public secondary schools in Kibra Sub-county. The study incorporated Attachment Theory and Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological System Theory. The study adopted a descriptive research design with a target population of 2,460 students. A sample size of 347 was obtained using Yamane Formula. The study used questionnaires for data collection. The quantitative data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) Version 27. The study concluded that cumulative exposure to multiple forms of childhood adversity, as reflected by the overall ACEs score, was significantly associated with attachment insecurity. This stipulates that adolescents who experienced a greater number of ACEs were more likely to exhibit less secure attachment styles. This research will help to develop further knowledge on adverse childhood experiences and attachment styles among adolescents and to also create strategies and policies for young people in Kibra, Subcounty.