Attachment and Couple Satisfaction: The Mediating Effect of Approach and Avoidance Commitment

Abstract

Satisfactory couple relationships are demonstrated to have a myriad of benefits. However, the ability to establish couple satisfaction is shown to be strongly and negatively impacted by insecure romantic attachment patterns (i.e., anxious and avoidant attachment). This study sought to gain an enhanced understanding of the aforementioned link by means of investigating a novel mediator model incorporating two facets of romantic commitment: approach commitment (the desire to maintain a relationship due to benefits inherent within this) and avoidance commitment (the desire to maintain a relationship to avoid potential losses resulting from relationship dissolution). Bootstrap analyses demonstrated that insecure attachments were differentially related to commitment goals, such that anxious attachment was related with higher approach and avoidance commitment. Conversely, while avoidant attachment was negatively linked with approach commitment goals, no relation was revealed with avoidance commitment goals. Additionally, results demonstrated that one's idiosyncratic commitment goals partially mediated the strongly established link between insecure attachment and couple satisfaction.

Attachment, trust, and satisfaction in relationships: Investigating actor, partner, and mediating effects

“…Recent empirical evidence points to the great impact that romantic attachment can have on overall family functioning as well as on romantic relationship processes (Hadden, Rodriguez, Knee, DiBello, & Baker, ; Pedro, Ribeiro, & Shelton, ). Additionally, a number of the most influential studies, some of which include actor–partner models, have shown strong empirical support linking one's own attachment (i.e., romantic and general) security with greater relationship satisfaction and one's own attachment insecurity with lower relationship satisfaction (Brassard et al, ; Brennan et al, ; Dandurand, Bouaziz, & Lafontaine, ; Feeney, Noller, & Callan, ; Molero, Shaver, Fernández, Alonso‐Arbiol, & Recio, ; Simpson, , ; Simpson & Rholes, ). Given the large body of research on the subject, Mikulincer and Shaver () provided an exhaustive review of the existing literature.…”

Genç Yetişkinlerin Romantik İlişkilerinde Bağlılık Kavramının Önemi ve Bağlılığın Olası Yordayıcıları

“…al., 1993;Kiecolt-Glaser et al, 1993;Beach, Smith, & Fincham, 1994;Forthofer et. al., 1996;Sinclair, & Nelson, 1998;Dandurand, Bouaziz, & Lafontaine, 2013).…”

“…In another recent study attempting to show the mediating role of commitment between attachment and satisfaction, the results revealed that anxious attachment was related with higher dedication and constraint commitment while avoidant attachment was negatively linked with dedication and no relation with constraint commitment; and dedication but not constraint commitment predicted satisfaction (Dandurand, Bouaziz, & Lafontaine, 2013).…”

“…Despite the variety of definitions, romantic commitment is principally and largely conceptualized as a cognitive construct, as the intention to maintain a couple relationship in the future, despite its costs or benefits and possible fluctuations in positive feelings (Dandurand, Bouaziz, & LaFontaine, 2013). Actually Surra and Hughes (1997) found that in relationships with high interpersonal commitment, the partners' commitment reaches a high level and stay there consistently over time.…”

Parental Divorce and Attitudes and Feelings toward Marriage and Divorce in Emerging Adulthood: New Insights from a Multiway-Frequency Analysis

“…Attachment is also associated with assessment of commitment benefits. Indeed, anxious attachment is correlated with both more awareness of the benefits of the romantic relationship and the costs for its dissolution, while avoidant attachment is correlated with less awareness of the positive aspects of the relationship (Dandurand, Bouaziz, & Lafontaine, 2003).…”