The role of self-concept clarity in adult attachment, adverse childhood experiences and psychotic like experiences.

Hayes, Gemma and Sellwood, Bill (2021) The role of self-concept clarity in adult attachment, adverse childhood experiences and psychotic like experiences. PhD thesis, Lancaster University.

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Abstract

Self-concept clarity (SCC) is defined as the “extent to which the contents of an individual's self-concept (e.g., perceived personal attributes) are clearly and confidently defined, internally consistent, and temporally stable” (Campbell et al., 1996, p.141). This thesis set out to identify and explore the role of SCC and its associations with adult attachment, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and the development of psychotic-like experiences (PLEs). Section 1 describes a systematic literature review examining whether there is an association between SCC and close interpersonal relationships. Four subject databases (PsychINFO; CINAHL plus; PsychArticles; Academic Search Complete) were searched to identify relevant literature. Eight papers met the inclusion criteria, reporting on 15 studies. These explored romantic, parental and peer relationships in addition to global measures of attachment within adult and adolescent populations. There was strong evidence to support the association between SCC and close relationships, whereby high levels of SCC were association with greater relationship quality/satisfaction. Section 2 described a study which aimed to explore whether SCC mediated the relationship between anxious and avoidant attachment styles and PLEs, along with ACEs and PLEs. Participants from the general population were recruited via social media and completed measures via an online survey which aimed to capture data on SCC, ACEs, adult attachment and PLEs. Analyses revealed that SCC was a significant mediator of insecure attachment styles and PLEs, and ACEs and PLEs, indicating the importance in considering the role of SCC in psychological intervention for individuals who experience distress as a result of PLEs. Limitations of the study are discussed as well as considerations for future research and clinical practice. Section 3 describes a critical and reflective appraisal of aspects of the whole thesis. This includes an overview of the main findings, personal reflections, and further discusses the strengths and limitations of the research.