Insecure Attachment and Perpetration of Psychological Abuse in Same-Sex Couples: A Relationship Moderated by Outness

Abstract

In recent decades, the study of psychological abuse in same-sex couples has increased, but the perpetration of psychological abuse and the influential psychosocial factors have been studied less. However, some previous studies have shown the importance of the insecure attachment style and outness as relevant psychosocial factors in the perpetration of psychological abuse. The aim of this research is to study the influence of the insecure attachment style on psychological abuse perpetration in same-sex couples, and the moderating role of the level of outness as antecedent variables of the perpetration of psychological abuse. An online survey was conducted with respondents from Spanish-speaking countries with 305 lesbian, gay men, and bisexual or pansexual adults. Results confirm that overall outness moderates the relationship between the insecure attachment style and the perpetration of psychological abuse. Specifically, taking into account the three subscales of outness (to family, to the world, and to religion), outness to the world moderates the relationship between the insecure attachment style and the perpetration of psychological abuse. The subscales of outness to family and to religion did not show significant results. The results obtained contribute to elucidating some of the relevant antecedent psychosocial factors in the perpetration of psychological abuse in same-sex couples. Practical implications and recommendations for future studies are included.