Environmental threat influences psychological distress and marital satisfaction among avoidantly attached individuals

Abstract

This research examined the impact of stressful environments on marital relationships. In all, 133 Israeli couples exposed to different levels of terror threat and political uncertainty completed measures of attachment orientation, psychological distress, and marital satisfaction. Results indicated that in low-threat areas, spouses high on attachment avoidance did not express distress despite their marital dissatisfaction. In contrast, in high-threat areas, spouses high on attachment avoidance exhibited greater psychological distress, and psychological distress mediated the relation between attachment avoidance and marital dissatisfaction. Psychological distress only partially mediated the relation between attachment anxiety and marital dissatisfaction in the entire sample. The discussion stresses the importance of considering attachment dimensions when studying the effects of external stressors on marital relations.

Living in fear: The relationship between fear of COVID-19, distress, health, and marital satisfaction among Israeli women

“…These results are consistent with the findings in the literature on the negative impact associated with stressful events such as the current pandemic (Droit-Volet et al, 2020). Similarly, several studies have also supported the notion that environmental stressors have a negative effect on marital satisfaction (Bodenmann & Randall, 2020;Reizer et al, 2010) and relationship functioning (Reizer et al, 2012).…”

Work-family conflict/enrichment: the role of personal resources

“…Moreover, substantial research demonstrated that threats of various kinds (e.g. economic uncertainty, threats to self-esteem or to one’s survival or sense of continuity) lead people to feel unsafe or anxious (Lazarus and Folkman, 1984), and are linked to negative outcomes including low marital satisfaction (Reizer et al , 2010) and low work motivation (Tziner et al , 2012). Therefore, it is not surprising that threat of loss of resources is related to conflict.…”

Work-Family Conflict Impact on Psychological Safety and Psychological Well-Being: A Job Performance Model

“…Stressful situations disrupt employee's perception of psychological safety as key resources are found to be endangered. Stress is elicited with each threat to loss of resources, such as economic uncertainty, the threat to self-esteem, fear for one's marital status or job security, financial downfall or a sick relative (Hobfoll, 1991(Hobfoll, , 2001Hunter and Csikszentmihalyi, 2003;Reizer et al, 2010). Married status and tenure are depicted by this theory valued and sought resources considering that those who are married have more influx to draw on, such as emotional support, empathy and finances, while tenure ensures greater performance and increased psychological safety.…”