Avoidant Attachment, Withdrawal-Aggression Conflict Pattern, and Relationship Satisfaction: A Mediational Dyadic Model.

Ione Bretaña,Patricia Recio,Fernando Molero,Itziar Alonso-Arbiol

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2021.794942

Ione Bretaña, Patricia Recio + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.794942

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Abstract

This study was conducted with the purpose of analyzing the combined and mediating effect of actor’s withdrawal–partner’s demand conflict resolution strategies between avoidance attachment dimension and relationship satisfaction. We conducted a dyadic study with 175 heterosexual couples (aged between 18 and 72 years) who filled in the questionnaires. Six hypotheses were tested using the actor–partner interdependence model with mediation analysis (APIMeM). Results showed that the avoidance dimension of attachment was more strongly associated with actor’s withdrawal strategy than with demand/aggression strategy. Furthermore, avoidance attachment was negatively associated with both actor’s and partner’s relationship satisfaction, the actor effect being higher. Withdrawal strategy was a mediator between actor’s avoidance and actor’s relationship satisfaction, but it was not a mediator for partner’s relationship satisfaction. The interactive pattern of actor’s withdrawal–partner’s demand/aggression was associated with low levels of both actor’s and partner’s relationship satisfaction. These results point out to the need of discerning the interactive pattern of conflict-solving strategies as well as their intertwined effect on relationship satisfaction.

Highlights

Several metaanalyses have shown that the avoidance attachment orientation accounts for a much stronger negative effect on relationship satisfaction as compared to anxiety attachment, this finding being documented in a wide range of situations and geographical locations (e.g., Li and Chan, 2012; Hadden et al, 2014; Candel and Turliuc, 2019)
We suggest that avoidant attachment dimension will be positively associated with own conflict resolution strategies, and these variables will be associated with relationship satisfaction
Avoidant attachment dimension and withdrawal conflict resolution strategy predicted partner’s relationship satisfaction, our study showed that actor withdrawal did not mediate between actor avoidant attachment and partner relationship satisfaction

Summary

Introduction

Many factors influence intimate relationships; some of them derive from current societal communication modes, such as social networks (Bridges and Morokoff, 2011; Howard, 2020), whereas some others cross boundaries of times and cultures, such as adult attachment (Abela et al, 2020). Research in close relationships has identified insecure attachment as a powerful predictor of the reported low levels of relationship satisfaction (e.g., Li and Chan, 2012; Feeney, 2016). Several metaanalyses have shown that the avoidance attachment orientation accounts for a much stronger negative effect on relationship satisfaction as compared to anxiety attachment, this finding being documented in a wide range of situations and geographical locations (e.g., Li and Chan, 2012; Hadden et al, 2014; Candel and Turliuc, 2019). The specific mechanisms behind this association need to be ascertained, though, to gain knowledge for assisting couples in improving their relational experience.

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