The Role of Pessimistic Attributions in the Association Between Anxious Attachment and Relationship Satisfaction

In this study, an actor–partner interdependence model was tested to examine the relationships among pessimistic attributions, anxious attachment, and relationship satisfaction, using married couples (N = 767) from The German Family Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics (pairfam; Huinink et al., 2011). For husbands and wives, higher levels of anxious attachment predicted more pessimistic attributions 2 years later. These pessimistic attributions, in turn, predicted their own later relationship satisfaction. Husbands' pessimistic attributions also predicted lower wives' relationship satisfaction. Pessimistic attributions fully mediated the relationship between anxious attachment and relationship satisfaction within spouses. It may be beneficial when intervening with couples to facilitate improvement in their attachment security and thereby promote more optimistic attributions and higher relationship satisfaction.

Source: Family Relations - September 4, 2015 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Jonathan G. Kimmes, Jared A. Durtschi, Charity E. Clifford, Darin J. Knapp, Frank D. Fincham Tags: Original Article Source Type: research