Abstract
There is substantial support that the attachment theory can be usefully applied to romantic relationships. A number of studies have shown that insecure adult attachment styles are related to lower relationship satisfaction.
The first aim of our study was to verify these findings on a sample of men and women. Secondly, we investigated how the pattern of change in relationship satisfaction over first 3 years of relationship relates to attachment style of partners.
The sample for this study consisted of 82 heterosexual men (age = 28,4; SD = 3,9) and 98 heterosexual women (age = 26,5; SD = 3,9) who were involved in a long term relationship. They were asked to fill out The Relationship Questionnaire (Bartholomew and Horowitz, 1991) which assesses four categories of adult attachment and the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS) (Spanier, 1976), and to depict a growth curve of their relationship satisfaction over years (first 3 years analyzed).
Curves were categorized into 4 types: a) rising, b) falling, c) stable, and d) fluctuating. The results showed that Insecure (Fearful and Preoccupied/Anxious) styles were connected to a lower level of the DAS subscale Dyadic cohesion (p = ,018) in men.
Attachment style in women did not relate to their relationship satisfaction. Moreover, higher level of the Preoccupied/Anxious style was associated with the falling type of relationship satisfaction curve (p = ,039).
Our results show that men's, but not women's attachment style relate to current relationship satisfaction. However, participants high at the Preoccupied/Anxious style of both sexes reported decreasing satisfaction over years.
This might be connected e.g. to their previously observed lower potential for self-disclosure to a closed person or to more frequent irrational believes about romantic relationship, which do not impair their ability to start a relationship, but rather the ability to develop and appreciate intimacy and closeness.