The attachment theory proposes a highly useful foundation for understanding the effects of child abuse and its relational consequences. Although the literature on child abuse and its relation with attachment styles is extensive in developed countries there are relatively few studies on this issue in developing countries.

The aim of the present study is to investigate the relation between child abuse and attachment styles in Turkish culture.

Relationship Scale Questionnaire and Childhood Trauma Questionnaire were applied to 1008 volunteer students from 8 different universities in Istanbul. Stepwise multiple regression analysis was conducted to investigate child abuse as a predictor of attachment pattern. This study is part of a larger study which investigates attachment patterns as a mediator between child abuse and psychopathology.

Physical abuse explained approximately 3% of the variance in fearful attachment, 2% of the variance in preoccupied attachment, and 1% of the variance in dismissing attachment.

Although there are correlations between sub-types of child abuse and insecure attachment patterns, only physical abuse is a significant predictor. the findings of this research may be useful for mental health professionals who work with young adults.