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Self-Compassion and Compassion Towards One's Partner Mediate the Negative Association Between Insecure Attachment and Relationship Quality

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 August 2019

Olivia C. Bolt ,
Fergal W. Jones ,
Myriam Rudaz ,
Thomas Ledermann  and
Chris Irons
Olivia C. Bolt
Affiliation:
Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, UK
Fergal W. Jones*
Affiliation:
Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, UK
Myriam Rudaz
Affiliation:
Institute of Practical Theology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
Thomas Ledermann
Affiliation:
Department of Family and Child Sciences, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Chris Irons
Affiliation:
Balanced Minds, London, UK
*
Address for correspondence: Fergal Jones, Salomons Centre for Applied Psychology, Canterbury Christ Church University, 1 Meadow Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 2YG, UK. E-mail: fergal.jones@canterbury.ac.uk
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Abstract

The quality of intimate relationships has been found to be a strong negative predictor for individuals’ mental and physical health problems. A significant predictor of relationship quality is adult attachment insecurity, but the mechanism by which attachment insecurity affects relationship quality needs further investigation. This study investigated whether self-compassion and compassion for one's partner mediated this association. Three hundred and forty-two individuals participated in an online survey assessing attachment anxiety and avoidance, compassionate and uncompassionate attitudes towards self and one's partner, as well as relationship quality and relationship satisfaction. The results showed that low self-compassionate attitude mediated the association between attachment anxiety and poor relationship quality. Further, low compassionate and high uncompassionate attitude towards one's partner mediated the association between attachment avoidance and poor relationship quality. No mediating effect was found for relationship satisfaction. Implications for interventions are discussed.

Keywords

adult attachmentself-compassioncompassion for partnerromantic relationshipscompassion-focused therapy
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Relationships Research , Volume 10 , 2019 , e20
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s) 2019 

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