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Romantic attachment and relationship functioning in same-sex couples.

Jonathan J Mohr1, Dylan Selterman, Ruth E Fassinger

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA. jmohr@umd.edu

Journal of Counseling Psychology
|January 30, 2013
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Attachment insecurity negatively impacts relationship functioning in same-sex couples. While similar across genders, male couples showed stronger effects for some positive relationship aspects.

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Area of Science:

  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Relationship Science

Background:

  • Romantic attachment theory is well-established in heterosexual relationships.
  • Understanding relationship dynamics in same-sex partnerships requires specific investigation.
  • Attachment insecurity can influence various relationship functioning aspects.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate links between romantic attachment dimensions and relationship functioning in same-sex couples.
  • Replicate findings from heterosexual relationship research in same-sex contexts.
  • Explore unique challenges and dynamics within same-sex relationships.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study design.
  • Sample comprised of female and male couples, with some individuals whose partners did not participate.
  • Data collected via pencil-and-paper surveys from participants in the US and Canada.

Main Results:

  • Attachment insecurity (self and partner) was linked to poorer relationship functioning (satisfaction, commitment, trust, communication, problem intensity).
  • Results were consistent across male and female couples, with stronger effects in male couples for some positive relationship functioning indices.
  • Monogamy's association with relationship quality was contingent on moderate to high attachment anxiety levels.
  • Attachment did not moderate the relationship between minority stressors and relationship functioning.

Conclusions:

  • Attachment insecurity is a significant factor in relationship functioning for both male and female same-sex couples.
  • While core attachment dynamics appear universal, gendered differences in effect strength exist in same-sex relationships.
  • Attachment security may be particularly important for relationship quality in the context of monogamy and attachment anxiety.