ABSTRACT
Aim
This study investigated how attachment patterns and epistemic trust mediate the development of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among university students in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Method
The sample consisted of 225 university students, a population shown to be particularly vulnerable to the long-term psychological impact of experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic. Data were collected via validated instruments measuring attachment anxiety and avoidance, epistemic trust, perceived psychosocial pandemic-related impact, and post-traumatic stress symptoms reported in relation to the COVID-19 illness.
Findings
Structural equation modelling revealed that perceived COVID-19 impact was directly associated with PTSD symptoms and attachment anxiety. Attachment anxiety—unlike avoidance—did not directly predict PTSD, but significantly predicted epistemic mistrust and credulity, which, in turn, were associated with increased PTSD symptoms, indicating a significant indirect effect. Although avoidant attachment significantly predicted lower epistemic trust, it did not significantly influence PTSD, suggesting that deactivating strategies might offer temporary protection during crises.
Conclusions
These findings underscore the importance of considering individual differences in attachment and social learning capacities when addressing trauma responses in young adults. The clinical relevance of targeting epistemic trust in interventions, particularly for anxiously attached individuals, and call for further longitudinal research to clarify causality and long-term outcomes are discussed.