The Effects of Attachment Styles on Relationship Satisfaction: Dyadic Analysis

Cilj ovog rada je ispitati, pomoću modela međuzavisnosti aktora i partnera (APIM), postoje li aktorski i partnerski efekti privrženosti na zadovoljstvo vezom. Iako dosadašnja istraživanja upućuju na važnost stilova privrženosti za zadovoljstvo vezom pojedinca i njegovog partnera, malo ih se bavilo ovim odnosom uzimajući u obzir dijadnu prirodu romantičnog odnosa. U istraživanju je sudjelovalo 215 parova u dobi od 19 do 65 godina koji su u vezi najmanje godinu dana. Za mjerenje privrženosti korišten je Upitnik interpersonalnih odnosa, a za mjerenje zadovoljstva vezom korišteni su Upitnik percipirane kvalitete braka, Indeks zadovoljstva partnerom i Skala bračne stabilnosti koji su objedinjeni i u zajedničku varijablu Ukupno zadovoljstvo vezom. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da bojažljiva i sigurna privrženost muškaraca imaju značajan aktorski efekt na njihovo zadovoljstvo vezom. Što su muškarci više bojažljivo privrženi, to će njihovo zadovoljstvo vezom biti niže. Suprotno tome, što su muškarci više sigurno privrženi, to će njihovo zadovoljstvo vezom biti više. Nadalje, dobiven je i značajan partnerski efekt bojažljive privrženosti muškaraca na zadovoljstvo vezom žena. Što su muškarci više bojažljivo privrženi, to će i njihove partnerice biti manje zadovoljne vezom.This study aimed to examine the actor and the partner effects of the attachment styles on relationship satisfaction using the Actor-partner interdependence model (APIM). Previous research has underlined the importance of the attachment style for relationship satisfaction of both partners, but little research examined this association while taking into account the dyadic nature of romantic relationships. Data were collected from 215 couples aged 19-65 who were at least one year in the relationship. This study utilized the Relationships Questionnaire and three measures of the relationship satisfaction - Perceived Relationship Quality Components, Partner's Satisfaction Index and Marriage Stability Scale which were combined into the measure of General Relationship Satisfaction. Results revealed significant actor effect of male fearful and secure attachment style on his relationship satisfaction. The higher men scored on the secure attachment style, the higher was their relationship satisfaction. Conversely, the higher they scored on the fearful attachment style, the lower was their relationship satisfaction. Furthermore, results demonstrated significant partner effect of male fearful attachment style on his partner's relationship satisfaction. The more men scored on fearful attachment style, the less were their female partners satisfied with the relationship