Romantic relationships in adults with ADHD: The effect of partner attachment style on relationship quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 42-64
Author(s):  
Katherine Knies ◽  
Elizabeth A. Bodalski ◽  
Kate Flory
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Adhd Symptoms ◽  
Anxious Attachment ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
Romantic Relationship Quality

Prior literature indicates that insecure attachment styles (i.e., anxious or avoidant) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) both have negative impacts on romantic relationships, but relatively little is known about how these factors interact among couples where one partner has ADHD and the other does not. One hundred and fifty-nine partners of adults with significant ADHD symptoms completed measures of their own attachment styles, their partner’s ADHD symptoms, and relationship quality. Anxious attachment was associated with lower romantic relationship quality, but avoidant attachment was associated with more positive relationship outcomes. Results also indicated that the negative effect of ADHD symptoms on romantic relationship quality may be exacerbated by a partner’s high level of anxious attachment. Though insecure attachment styles are generally thought to have a negative impact on romantic relationships, avoidant attachment was generally associated with more positive outcomes in this study. Several possible explanations based on theoretical support are included in the discussion along with clinical applications and future directions.

Interparental conflict and relational attitudes within romantic relationships: The mediating role of attachment orientations

2022 ◽  
pp. 026540752110616
Author(s):  
Rami Tolmacz ◽  
Rachel Bachner-Melman ◽  
Lilac Lev-Ari ◽  
Karen Almagor
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Interparental Conflict ◽  
Structural Equations ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Couple Relationships ◽  
Anxious Attachment ◽  
Attachment Orientations ◽  
Avoidant Attachment

Early experiences and childhood perceptions of interparental conflict (IPC) have consistently been shown to have detrimental consequences for future psychological adjustment, in particular for attachment and couple relationships during adolescence and adulthood. We hypothesized that 1. IPC would predict anxious and avoidant attachment styles, and three relational attitudes associated with couple relationships: sense of relational entitlement, pathological concern, and authenticity; and 2. Attachment style would mediate the associations between IPC and these three relational attitudes. Measures of perceived IPC, attachment orientations, relational entitlement, pathological concern, and authenticity in romantic relationships were completed online by 280 young adults aged 19–32. IPC was positively correlated with anxious and avoidant attachment styles, restricted and inflated sense of entitlement, and pathological concern and negatively with authenticity. A structural equations model showed that IPC predicted avoidant and anxious attachment styles, which positively predicted an inflated and restricted sense of relational entitlement and pathological concern and negatively predicted authenticity. Attachment styles fully mediated the relationships between IPC and the relational attitudes. IPC therefore seems to be related to imbalanced attitudes in romantic relationships, due in part to a propensity toward insecure attachment orientations. Children with insecure attachment who are exposed to significant levels of IPC may be at high risk for relationship problems later in life because of difficulties exposing their vulnerability, assessing need fulfillment realistically, and caring for themselves as well as others. They should therefore be helped to communicate their relational needs to significant others, in particular to their partners.

scholarly journals RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN FACEBOOK-RELATED BEHAVIORS AND CHARACTERISTICS OF A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP

TEME ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 281
Author(s):  
Ivana Isailović ◽  
Jelena Šakotić Kurbalija
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Social Networking Sites ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Dyadic Adjustment ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Relationship Status ◽  
Relational Factors ◽  
The Relationship

The problem of this study was to explore the relationship between Facebook-related behaviors and characteristics of romantic relationships. Based on the results of previous research, we assumed that there would be significant gender differences in the frequency and manner of using Facebook, that there would be a significant relationship between the attachment style and Facebook monitoring and Facebook-related conflicts, and that Facebook monitoring and Facebook-related conflicts would significantly predict relationship quality. The sample consisted of 201 respondents from Serbia, 42.5% of which were male. Using the Dyadic adjustment scale - DAS (Spanier, 1976, 1989), Interpersonal electronic surveillance - IES (Tokunaga, 2011; modification Tucker, 2014), The Facebook-related Conflict Scale (Clayton, Nagurney, & Smith, 2013) and Experiences in Close Relationships Inventory - ECR (Brennan, Clark, & Shaver, 1998; modification Kamenov & Jelic, 2003), results showed that women use Facebook and post the relationship status and pictures with a partner more often than men and that people with an insecure attachment style more often engage in Facebook monitoring. Also, results showed that Facebook-related conflicts are a significant predictor of relationship quality. The present study contributes to the understanding of romantic relationship dynamics in the age of social networking sites, by pointing to the relational factors that are potentially at risk because of Facebook use.

scholarly journals Exploring How UK Adults' Attachment Style in Romantic Relationships Affects Engagement in Controlling Behaviours

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Molly C. Gilbert ◽  
Robert Blakey
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Adult Attachment ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Clinical Sample ◽  
Interpersonal Relationship ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Self Report ◽  
Online Questionnaire ◽  
Anxious Attachment

Copious studies have identified a link between disorganised attachment and engagement in controlling caregiving or controlling punitive behaviours. Studies have suggested that consistently engaging in these behaviours can cause difficulties within relationships and contribute to the development of a personality disorder. Most of the literature thus far has focused on engagement in controlling behaviours by children with a disorganised attachment style, despite there being theoretical grounds to suggest they may also be used by adults and across all types of insecure attachment. This study aimed to address these gaps by looking at adult attachment style and engagement in controlling behaviours in romantic relationships, across all insecure attachment styles; avoidant, anxious and disorganised. The current study recruited a non-clinical sample; specifically, 149 English-speaking adults, living in the UK, between the ages of 18 and 77 years old (M = 34.28, SD = 14.90). The participants answered an anonymous online questionnaire containing four self-report measures which assessed the participants' attachment security and organisation, caregiving style and engagement in punitive behaviours. The results indicated that participants who scored higher in disorganised attachment were more likely to use controlling punitive behaviours in their romantic relationships. Moreover, participants who reported a more insecure-anxious attachment style were more likely to use compulsive caregiving behaviours in their romantic relationships. In contrast, participants who reported a higher insecure avoidant attachment style were less likely to use compulsive caregiving behaviours in their romantic relationships. These results have implications for adult attachment theory and aid the understanding of some of the behaviours that can be harmful within romantic relationships. The findings could be used to help at-risk individuals develop healthy interpersonal relationship going forward.

scholarly journals Dogs’ Sociability, Owners’ Neuroticism and Attachment Style to Pets as Predictors of Dog Aggression

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elena Gobbo ◽  
Manja Zupan
Keyword(s):  
Aggressive Behavior ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Psychological Profile ◽  
Anxious Attachment ◽  
Internal Factors ◽  
Psychological Profiles ◽  
Avoidant Attachment

A dog’s aggressive behavior is influenced by external and internal factors, including its psychological profile. In this study, dogs’ and owners’ personalities and the owners’ attachment style to their dogs were identified and associated with owner-reported dog aggression towards humans and animals. Forty Slovenian owners participated with their dogs, of different breeds and aggression history, sorted into three groups (non-aggressive dogs, dogs aggressive towards humans, and dogs aggressive towards animals). The owners filled out three separate questionnaires that assessed dog aggression history towards different targets, owner’s personality and degree of insecure attachment styles to dogs; namely anxious and avoidant attachment. Dog personality was characterized using a standardized dog mentality assessment test, during which the dog was exposed to nine tasks, performed outside, and dogs were scored based on behaviors they exhibited. The results indicated that dogs which were aggressive towards humans were less sociable than non-aggressive dogs and this was associated with the higher neuroticism scores of their owners. We also found that dogs which were aggressive towards strangers had owners with lower scores for anxious attachment and that dogs which were aggressive towards owners had owners with higher scores for avoidant attachment. These results imply that the psychological profiles of both a dog and its owner influence dog aggression towards humans.

Predicting Young Adults’ Romantic Relationship Quality: Sibling Ties and Adult Attachment Styles

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (5) ◽  
pp. 662-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
Massimiliano Sommantico ◽  
Anna Rosa Donizzetti ◽  
Santa Parrello ◽  
Barbara De Rosa
Keyword(s):  
Young Adults ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Adult Attachment ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Sibling Relationships ◽  
Psychological Research ◽  
Adult Attachment Styles ◽  
Romantic Relationship Quality

Young adults’ romantic relationships have continually emerged as a significant area of study in psychological research. The authors examine possible associations between a measure of attitudes toward sibling relationships, a measure of adult attachment styles, and a measure of romantic relationship quality in a sample of 350 Italian university students (68.6% females, 31.4% males; age range 19-30 years, M age = 23.6 years, SD = 3.2). The authors tested the following hypotheses: that the perceived relationship quality between siblings was positively correlated with adult attachment styles and romantic relationship quality, that the frequent use of behaviors associated with adult attachment styles was negatively correlated with romantic relationship quality, and that attitudes toward sibling relationships and adult attachment styles predicted romantic relationship quality. Findings only partly supported the hypotheses, indicating that more positive attitudes toward sibling relationships and lower use of behaviors associated with avoidant attachment style influenced and predicted higher romantic relationship quality.

Empathy and Romantic Relationship Quality Among Cohabitating Couples

2017 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 208-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emilio C. Ulloa ◽  
Julia F. Hammett ◽  
Nicole A. Meda ◽  
Salvador J. Rubalcaba
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Relationship Quality ◽  
Romantic Relationship ◽  
Statistical Significance ◽  
Married Couples ◽  
Dyadic Data Analysis ◽  
Dyadic Data ◽  
National Longitudinal Study ◽  
Partner Effect ◽  
Romantic Relationship Quality

This study employed a dyadic data analysis approach to examine the association between partners’ empathy and relationship quality among cohabitating couples. Data were collected from 374 cohabitating but nonmarried couples who were participants in the Wave 3 romantic pairs subsample of the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health (Add Health). Men’s higher empathy was related to their own perceptions of better relationship quality and women’s higher empathy was related to their own as well as their partner’s perceptions of better relationship quality. These findings show that individuals’ abilities to be understanding, compassionate, and sympathetic may be related to the overall feeling of satisfaction and love in romantic relationships. The only effect that did not reach statistical significance was the partner effect from men’s empathy to women’s relationship quality. Although previous research with married couples has shown that men’s empathy may play a more important role in shaping couples’ perceptions of relationship quality, according to the current findings, these findings may not extend to cohabitating couples. The current results provide beneficial guidance to clinicians working with distressed, nonmarried couples.

scholarly journals Insecure Attachment and Other Help-Seeking Barriers among Women Depressed Postpartum

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 3887
Author(s):  
Emily Cacciola ◽  
Elia Psouni
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Style ◽  
Help Seeking ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Qualitative Methodology ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Treatment Programs ◽  
Entire Family ◽  
Relational Experiences ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
Seeking Behavior

When untreated, postpartum depression (PPD) can severely, negatively affect maternal health, child development, and the wellbeing and functioning of the entire family. Yet, despite screening and treatment programs for PPD, many women who experience depression with onset in the postpartum year do not communicate their symptoms. Negative relational experiences early in life, such as not receiving sensitive help and support when needed, often result in so-called insecure attachment styles, and there is evidence that these may contribute to the development and maintenance of PPD. However, the role of insecure attachment styles in non-help-seeking is unknown for this group. Using mixed quantitative and qualitative methodology, we identified help-seeking barriers of women who experienced depression with onset in the postpartum year but who had not sought help for their depression (N = 37), and explored links to their attachment orientations as assessed through both self-reported attachment style and narrative based attachment script assessment. The sample was non-normative regarding attachment, with an over-representation of avoidant attachment styles. Help-seeking barriers varied systematically with the mother’s adult attachment style. Specifically, convictions of a strong self and lack of trust in healthcare professionals constituted a common barrier among women with avoidant attachment styles, while unrealistic expectations about motherhood constituted a barrier for women with secure attachment styles. This new knowledge on how barriers to communicating symptoms and seeking help when suffering from PPD vary systematically with attachment orientation can help formulate individualized, and therefore more efficient, approaches to addressing non-help-seeking behavior in women who suffer in silence.

scholarly journals Why Some People Just “Can’t Get No Satisfaction”: Secure versus Insecure Attachment Styles Affect One’s “Style of Being in the Social World”

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 36
Author(s):  
Willem Verbeke ◽  
Frank Belschack ◽  
Richard P. Bagozzi ◽  
Rumen Pozharliev ◽  
Tsachi Ein-Dor
Keyword(s):  
Attachment Style ◽  
Commercial Bank ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Positive Emotions ◽  
Social World ◽  
Relationship Formation ◽  
Anxious Attachment ◽  
Luxury Goods ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
The Social

We first seek to explore the relationship between attachment styles of professional financial service customers and their ability to experience customer satisfaction and build relationships with a commercial bank. Secure attached people identify with the commercial bank, feel satisfied and are loyal with the commercial bank. Second, we question whether attachment styles and degrees of satisfaction are also reflected in a capacity to feel pleasure in attachments to luxury products, feel happiness and pro-activeness, develop positive relationships with others, and sleep well for multiple samples of non-commercial customers. Apparently, secure attached people form enjoyable attachments with luxury goods/brands. Equally, in life in general they show a proactive attitude and generosity toward others, and feel low envy. Anxious attachment style relates negatively with appraisal of and relationship formation with commercial banks, negatively with enjoyment and attachment to luxury goods, and negatively with generosity towards people and happiness. In addition, anxious attachment style relates positively with envy towards people and low sleep quality. Avoidant attachment style does not relate with any of the above variables except for a negative association with happiness with life in general. Finally, none of the attachment styles scales relates with the BIS-BAS scale, except that anxious attachment relates with the BIS scale, indicating largely that the attachment system does not function as an approach-avoidance system but helps in homeostatic regulation of stress due to the experience of quiescence with others. By studying how attachment styles affect people in commercial and general social domains we hope to pave the way for further exploration of the fundamental mechanisms that drive secure attached people as opposed to insecure attached people to generally experience positive emotions and outcomes in life. We tentatively suggest that compared to insecure attached people, secure attached people possess a different “style of being in the social world.”

Potential of Brand Personality: Attachment Styles as Moderator

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 34 ◽  
Author(s):  
LO Ying Tuan ◽  
Huam Hon Tat ◽  
Ahmad Sharifuddin Shamsuddin ◽  
Amran Md Rasli ◽  
Ahmad Jusoh
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Study ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Coming Out ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Brand Personality ◽  
The Other ◽  
Anxious Attachment ◽  
Brand Attachment ◽  
Avoidant Attachment ◽  
The Impact

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of consumer’s attachment styles as a moderator in the impact of brand personality on its brand attachment. This research investigated the preferred brand personality of anxious and avoidant attachment consumer, their likelihood to be attached to that brand and how they respond to any changes in brand personality. A total of 300 students were surveyed. Their attachment style and their response towards sincere and exciting personality and its brand attachment were assessed. Empirical study shows that anxious attachment style consumer preferred sincere brand personality, tends to be attached with it and did not respond to any changes in brand personality.  Avoidant attachment style people on the other hand have a stronger relationship with the exciting brand personality, are not likely to be attached to it and will respond to changes in brand personality. This study implies that marketers should get to know their targeted market’s attachment style prior coming out with the suitable brand personality.

Attachment Styles and the Ideal Image of a Mate

2004 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 87-95 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rami Tolmacz ◽  
Gil Goldzweig ◽  
Ruth Guttman
Keyword(s):  
Romantic Relationships ◽  
Attachment Style ◽  
Attachment Styles ◽  
Insecure Attachment ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Relational Patterns ◽  
Ideal Image ◽  
Personality Patterns ◽  
The Ideal

The study examines, within the framework of attachment theory, relationships of ideal images of young males with respect to their ideal image of a mate. A review of previous studies dealing with partner selection reveals the lack of a theoretical model that combines developmental processes and specific personality patterns with the process of creating an ideal image of the partner. The present study uses Facet Theory and Facet Design to construct a unified conceptual framework for the research in which attachment style and ideal image of the spouse are viewed as two modes of relating to one another. Intercorrelations among replies to the attachment and ideal image questionnaires were subjected to Smallest Space Analysis (SSA). The results indicate a relation between attachment style, the subjects' ideal image of a mate and the ideal images of oneself and one's mother. As predicted, persons with a secure style tended to have high levels of flexibility in their descriptions of the ideal image of the spouse. Males with insecure attachment styles exhibited different relational patterns of ideal image of themselves and their mothers. The SSA results suggest a hierarchic relation between attachment styles and the ideal image of a mate. These findings are consistent with the understanding that attachment styles affect the character and quality of the individual's romantic relationships.

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