Abstract
Individuals in healthy romantic relationships gain significant benefits to their psychological wellbeing and physiological health. Notably, the majority of relationship research has focused on how adult attachment influences these relationship outcomes while the role of olfaction remains an emerging research focus. The aim of the current study was to bring together these seemingly unrelated factors–attachment and olfaction–in an online quasi-experimental design. The participants were 401 undergraduate students, predominantly females, ranging in age from 17 to 70 years. Participants completed a battery of questionnaires that evaluated their attachment tendencies, olfactory ability and experiences in romantic relationships. Results indicated that attachment insecurity, across both attachment anxiety and avoidance, was associated with decreased olfactory functioning for females. These findings provide preliminary evidence that olfaction is related to romantic relationship maintenance and suggests that body odors could be fundamental for evoking the attachment system. These findings also elicit enticing new avenues of research which can assist psychologists to provide targeted treatments to individuals with olfactory deficits and insecure attachment tendencies.
Highlights
A person’s olfactory ability may affect the initiation, maintenance and dissolution of a romantic relationship [1]
The Introduction presents a review of the attachment and olfaction literature separately, culminating in a demonstration of how adult attachment style and olfactory ability are theoretically related
The results indicated a modest, negative relationship was prevalent between attachment avoidance and olfactory awareness for females
Summary
A person’s olfactory ability may affect the initiation, maintenance and dissolution of a romantic relationship [1] Another strong predictor of experiences within and outcomes of romantic relationships is adult attachment style. Despite the theoretical links between olfactory ability and adult attachment style, no previous studies have empirically explored this relation. With the secure base nearby, the child can confidently explore their world and begin trusting others, influencing their mental schemas about themselves, others and the world [5]. Bowlby described this bond as the attachment system, whereby the primary caregiver becomes the child’s attachment figure they call to when distressed
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