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Attachment and Couple Satisfaction: The Mediating Effect of Approach and Avoidance Commitment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 July 2013

Cathy Dandurand ,
Anne-Rose Bouaziz  and
Marie-France Lafontaine
Cathy Dandurand*
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Anne-Rose Bouaziz
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Marie-France Lafontaine
Affiliation:
University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
*
ADDRESS FOR CORRESPONDENCE: Cathy Dandurand, University of Ottawa, 136 Jean-Jacques Lussier, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5, Canada. Email: cdand051@uottawa.ca
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Abstract

Satisfactory couple relationships are demonstrated to have a myriad of benefits. However, the ability to establish couple satisfaction is shown to be strongly and negatively impacted by insecure romantic attachment patterns (i.e., anxious and avoidant attachment). This study sought to gain an enhanced understanding of the aforementioned link by means of investigating a novel mediator model incorporating two facets of romantic commitment: approach commitment (the desire to maintain a relationship due to benefits inherent within this) and avoidance commitment (the desire to maintain a relationship to avoid potential losses resulting from relationship dissolution). Bootstrap analyses demonstrated that insecure attachments were differentially related to commitment goals, such that anxious attachment was related with higher approach and avoidance commitment. Conversely, while avoidant attachment was negatively linked with approach commitment goals, no relation was revealed with avoidance commitment goals. Additionally, results demonstrated that one's idiosyncratic commitment goals partially mediated the strongly established link between insecure attachment and couple satisfaction.

Keywords

coupleattachmentcommitmentsatisfactiongoals
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 4 , 25 October 2013 , e3
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Australian Academic Press Pty Ltd 2013 

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