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Peer-reviewedCC BYEuropean journal of investigation in health, psychology and education

Latent Profiles of Primary Emotional Systems and Their Associations with PTSD, CPTSD, Attachment, and Childhood Adversity.

  • Paulo Ferrajão1,2
  • Rebeca Fernandes Rocha1,2
  • Amadeu Quelhas Martins1,3
  1. 1Faculdade de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Europeia, 1500-210 Lisbon, Portugal.
  2. 2CIDESD-Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health and Human Development, Universidade da Beira Interior, 6200-001 Covilhã, Portugal.
  3. 3UNI-DCOM/IADE, UnidadedeInvestigação em Design e Comunicação, Jardim António Augusto Simenta Mor-dido, Universidade Europeia, 1886-502 Moscavide, Portugal.
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Abstract

Adverse childhood experiences are associated with trauma-related psychopathology, but individual differences in affective organization may contribute to heterogeneous outcomes. This study aimed to identify latent profiles of primary emotional systems and examine their associations with attachment, childhood maltreatment, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD). A community sample of 917 Portuguese adults completed measures of primary emotional systems, adult attachment, childhood maltreatment, and PTSD/CPTSD symptoms. Latent profile analyses were conducted separately for women and men, followed by measurement invariance testing and multinomial logistic regression analyses. Four profiles were identified in both sexes: Negative Affect, Low Affective Activation, Balanced Affective Functioning, and Positive Affect. Partial measurement invariance indicated sex-related differences in ANGER, FEAR, and PANIC, while the overall profile structure was comparable across sexes. Negative Affect was associated with PTSD, CPTSD, and fearful attachment in both sexes. Low Affective Activation was associated with CPTSD and dismissing attachment, with additional associations varying by sex. The findings indicate that primary emotional systems form heterogeneous configurations that are differentially associated with developmental, interpersonal, and clinical characteristics. Person-centered assessment may complement symptom-based approaches, although causal inference and profile stability cannot be established.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{ferrajao2026latent,
  title = {{Latent Profiles of Primary Emotional Systems and Their Associations with PTSD, CPTSD, Attachment, and Childhood Adversity.}},
  author = {Paulo Ferrajão and Rebeca Fernandes Rocha and Amadeu Quelhas Martins},
  journal = {European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/ejihpe16100162},
  url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930225},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Latent Profiles of Primary Emotional Systems and Their Associations with PTSD, CPTSD, Attachment, and Childhood Adversity.
AU  - Paulo Ferrajão
AU  - Rebeca Fernandes Rocha
AU  - Amadeu Quelhas Martins
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/14
JO  - European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education
DO  - 10.3390/ejihpe16100162
UR  - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42930225
AB  - Adverse childhood experiences are associated with trauma-related psychopathology, but individual differences in affective organization may contribute to heterogeneous outcomes. This study aimed to identify latent profiles of primary emotional systems and examine their associations with attachment, childhood maltreatment, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and complex PTSD (CPTSD). A community sample of 917 Portuguese adults completed measures of primary emotional systems, adult attachment, childhood maltreatment, and PTSD/CPTSD symptoms. Latent profile analyses were conducted separately for women and men, followed by measurement invariance testing and multinomial logistic regression analyses. Four profiles were identified in both sexes: Negative Affect, Low Affective Activation, Balanced Affective Functioning, and Positive Affect. Partial measurement invariance indicated sex-related differences in ANGER, FEAR, and PANIC, while the overall profile structure was comparable across sexes. Negative Affect was associated with PTSD, CPTSD, and fearful attachment in both sexes. Low Affective Activation was associated with CPTSD and dismissing attachment, with additional associations varying by sex. The findings indicate that primary emotional systems form heterogeneous configurations that are differentially associated with developmental, interpersonal, and clinical characteristics. Person-centered assessment may complement symptom-based approaches, although causal inference and profile stability cannot be established.
SN  - 2174-8144
SN  - 2254-9625
ER  -