The avoidance cocoon: Examining the interplay between attachment and caregiving in predicting relationship satisfaction

Abstract

In the present research, we examined the hypothesis that low avoidance enables the activation of the caregiving system, and therefore, among people low in avoidance, caregiving would affect relationship satisfaction, whereas among people high in avoidance, caregiving would not affect relationship satisfaction. One‐hundred seventy‐nine Israeli adults, currently involved in romantic relationships, participated in Study 1, in which we examined whether attachment avoidance moderated the associations between caregiving and relationship satisfaction. In Study 2, we sought to replicate this finding in a sample of Israeli couples (N = 194). Finally, in Study 3 (N = 44), we examined links between attachment, caregiving, and relationship satisfaction over a period of 1 year among Israeli married couples. Results indicated that caregiving deactivation and/or hyperactivation predicted lower relationship satisfaction, yet only among people low in avoidance or among people whose partners were low in avoidance. Results are discussed in relation to the important interplay between behavioral systems on individual and dyadic levels. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Attachment and social support in romantic dyads: A systematic review

“…A. Feeney & Hohaus, ). Studies reported a consistent relationship between dimensions of attachment anxiety and hyperactivation of caregiving behavior, revealing higher levels of compulsive (Braun et al, ; Eldredge, ; Millings & Walsh, ; Péloquin et al, ; Reizer et al, ) and controlling caregiving (Braun et al, ; Péloquin et al, ). This relationship was also evident with caregivers classified as preoccupied (J.…”

“…A. Feeney & Hohaus, ; J. A. Feeney, Alexander, Noller, & Hohaus, ; Millings & Walsh, ; Péloquin, Brassard, Lafontaine, & Shaver, ; Reizer, Ein‐Dor, & Possick, ; Reizer, Ein‐Dor, & Shaver, ), high levels of controlling caregiving (Braun et al, ; B. C. Feeney & Collins, ; Péloquin et al, ), and caregiving deactivation involving decreased involvement in caregiving behavior (Reizer et al, ; Simpson, Rholes, Campbell, Tran, & Wilson, ). A single study reported no relationship between the dimension of attachment avoidance and compulsive support (Eldredge, ).…”

“…Male support recipients with an avoidant attachment were less likely to receive sensitive caregiving from females (Millings & Walsh, ). However, the attachment avoidance of the support recipient did not predict caregiving deactivation in the support provider, and the attachment anxiety of the support recipient did not predict caregiving hyperactivation of the support provider (Reizer et al, ).…”

“…Regarding recipients with an anxious attachment, relationship satisfaction has been shown to increase with responsive support (Gosnell & Gable, ), and two studies reported a reduction in distress levels following support attempts (Kordahji, Bar‐Kalifa, & Rafaeli, ). However, individuals with an anxious attachment typically displayed less favorable responses to support, deriving no health benefits from perceiving high levels of support (Davila & Kashy, ; McClure et al, ; Meuwly et al, ; Reizer et al, ; Stanton & Campbell, ; Vilchinsky et al, ). Support comprising aggressive humor was also shown to reduce mood in anxiously attached recipients (Howland & Simpson, ).…”

“…Support comprising aggressive humor was also shown to reduce mood in anxiously attached recipients (Howland & Simpson, ). Reizer et al () reported support providers high in caregiving hyperactivation were less satisfied in their relationship when their partner is high in attachment anxiety. However, these studies did not consider the attachment style of the caregiver, and this could help explain the ambiguity of these findings.…”