The Role of Attachment of Each Partner on Marital Adjustment

Abstract

This study conducted a latent profile analysis on quantitative data gathered from 156 married couples, so to learn more about the role of attachment and gender in marital adjustment. This study explored Finzi-Dottan, Cohen, and Tyano’s (2004) theoretical model, which focuses on how the attachment of each partner contributes to the relationship’s dynamics. Findings were that two partners with secure attachment reported the highest levels of marital adjustment. Both partners with high levels of avoidance or anxiety reported the lowest levels of adjustment. Couples with a mixture of attachment experienced differing levels of adjustment. Differently than predicted, avoidant wives with secure husbands did not experience lower levels of adjustment than secure wives with avoidant husbands. Rather, the husbands endorsed lower levels of adjustment, while these differences were not implicated in the wives’ adjustment. The attachment profile combination was related to the spouse’s gender. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.