Secure relationship does not mean satisfying relationship during the pandemic: The role of mattering and life satisfaction

Abstract

Relationship satisfaction (RS) is one of the major components of mental health that is often ignored due to cultural reasons. Moreover, numerous studies had indicated that when individuals have insecure attachment styles (insecurity in loving someone else), they would never develop any RS with anyone, including friends, spouses, parents, children, and relatives. The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic had triggered different social patterns among individuals all over the world, and studies during the pandemic indicated the significance of some factors such as the sense of mattering and perceived life satisfaction (LS) to the mental health of the general adults. Our references led us to hypothesize that interpersonal mattering (IM) significantly predicted RS, mediated by LS, under the condition of low secure attachment style (SAS). Randomly selected 405 adults from Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, Malaysia, were financially compensated to complete the scales of IM, satisfaction with life, SAS section of measure of attachment style (MOAS), and RS index. The results indicated that the mediation of LS on the link between mattering and RS was only significant when the level of SAS is at the low and moderate levels. Further implications, limitations, and suggestions are discussed.

Achieving relationship satisfaction: household gender equality and mattering

“…This sense of mattering is also positively associated with one's unconditional self-acceptance [14] positive emotion [15], and life satisfaction. Furthermore, it was reported that the sense of mattering is a significant predictor of relationship satisfaction [16], and this relationship is partially mediated by life satisfaction. The mediation relationship is also moderated by the secure attachment style, as individuals with low-to-moderate secure attachment style are more likely to be satisfied with their relationship when they feel they matter enough to their spouses.…”

“…Contextually, the sense of mattering to one's partner is crucial for maintaining relationship satisfaction [13] as it is positively associated with unconditional self-acceptance [14], positive emotion [15], and overall life satisfaction. The mediation relationship between the sense of mattering and relationship satisfaction is moderated by secure attachment style, whereby individuals with low-to-moderate secure attachment style tend to be more satisfied with their relationship when they feel they matter enough to their spouses [16]. When attachment to one's spouse is secured, individuals tend to be more satisfied with their life, and in turn, more satisfied with their relationship (18).…”