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Attachment and Commitment in Dyadic Friendships: Mediating Roles of Satisfaction, Quality of Alternatives, and Investment Size

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 July 2013

Chong Man Chow  and
Cin Cin Tan
Chong Man Chow*
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA
Cin Cin Tan
Affiliation:
Psychology Department, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA
*
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Chong Man Chow, Psychology Department, University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh, 800 Algoma Blvd., CF 8, Oshkosh WI, 54901, USA. Email: chowc@uwosh.edu
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Abstract

This study integrated the investment model and attachment theory to examine: (1) whether the link between friendship attachment and commitment would be mediated by relationship features of satisfaction, quality of alternatives, and investment size; and (2) whether these mediation processes would function at the intrapersonal (actor) and interpersonal (partner) levels. The sample included 120 pairs of same-sex friends (78 pairs of women). Data were analysed with the Actor-Partner Interdependence Mediation Model (APIMeM). Mediated actor effects suggest that individuals high in attachment avoidance are less satisfied with and invest less in their current friendship; these in turn, lead them to show less commitment. Furthermore, individuals high in attachment anxiety invest more in their current friendship, which in turn leads to higher commitment. Mediated partner effects suggest that individuals high in attachment avoidance have a friend who feels less satisfied with, invests less, and shows low commitment in their current friendship. The current study demonstrated that a dyadic design is useful in illustrating the dynamics of commitment between close friends.

Keywords

friendshipcommitmentactor-partner-interdependence modeldyadicyoung adultattachment
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 4 , 25 October 2013 , e4
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Australian Academic Press Pty Ltd 2013 

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