[Pair bonding and attachment. A meta-analysis of 63 studies published between 1987 and 1997]

Starting with Hazan and Shaver (1987) [8] a new field of research has been opened, couple relationship and attachment, which is attracting increasing interest worldwide.

63 primary studies, published between 1987 and 1997, on partner relationship and adult attachment were systematically content analysed with regard to their methodology (samples, designs, methodology of data-collection with regard to attachment status and to couple relationship) and their results (demographic data and sex/gender effects; concordance of attachment classifications within couples; correspondence between one partner's AAI and the other's CRI; associations between attachment and relationship stability/relationship satisfaction/partner related explanations/couple interaction/psychophysiological data/sexuality; relationship specific effects; interactions of attachment, sex/gender and relationship quality). Conceptual and methodological problems with regard to the measurement of adult attachment are critically discussed (the two "camps": AAI-researchers and self-report questionnaire researchers; categorical versus dimensional assessments; global trait or relationship specific construct; conscious or unconscious) and research conclusions derived.