Attachment Disruption and Romantic Relationships: A Study of Trauma Reenactment Among Ghanaian University Students

Abstract

Background: Attachment theory posits that early caregiving relationships shape future relational patterns. When these early attachments are disrupted, individuals may unconsciously reenact unresolved emotional wounds in romantic relationships. However, limited research has examined these dynamics among university students in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Objectives: This study aimed to explore the relationship between early attachment disruption and  trauma reenactment in romantic relationships among Ghanaian university students. It specifically examined whether early attachment trauma predicted maladaptive romantic behaviors using the Hidden Trauma Revelation Scale (HTRS).

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among 350 undergraduate students from the University of Mines and Technology (UMaT) and Takoradi Technical University (TTU). Participants completed two subscales of the HTRS: Early Attachment Disruption and Relationship Reenactment Patterns. Data was analyzed using SPSS v26. Descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, t-tests, and linear regression were employed to examine relationships and demographic differences.

Results: Students reported moderate to high levels of attachment disruption (M = 16.2, SD = 4.1) and reenactment (M = 17.5, SD = 4.5). Attachment disruption significantly correlated with reenactment scores (r = 0.66, p < 0.001) and predicted 43.7% of the variance in relationship trauma patterns (p < 0.001). Female students and those aged 26–30 had significantly higher trauma scores. The findings confirm a strong link between early emotional wounds and current relational difficulties.

Conclusion: Early attachment trauma significantly predicts maladaptive romantic relationship patterns among university students. Trauma-informed counseling and psychodynamic screening tools like the HTRS should be integrated into university mental health services to identify and address hidden relational wounds.