“All or nothing”: Attachment avoidance and the curvilinear effects of partner support.

Abstract

People high in attachment avoidance typically respond more negatively to partner support, but some research suggests they can be calmed by high levels of practical support. In the present research, we attempted to reconcile these inconsistencies by modeling curvilinear associations between romantic partners' support and support recipients' outcomes and testing whether these curvilinear associations were moderated by recipients' degree of attachment avoidance. We examined the effect of partner support during support-relevant discussions (Studies 1-3) and in daily life (Study 4) on support recipients' distress (Studies 1-4), self-efficacy (Studies 2 and 3), perceived partner control/criticism (Studies 2 and 4), and distancing from the partner (Study 4). The results and a meta-analysis across all four studies (N = 298 couples) demonstrated that the curvilinear effect of practical support on recipients' outcomes was moderated by attachment avoidance. Highly avoidant recipients exhibited more negative responses as their partner provided them low-to-moderate levels of practical support, including increasing distress, perceived partner control/criticism and distancing, and decreasing self-efficacy. However, as partners' practical support shifted from moderate to high levels, highly avoidant recipients experienced more positive outcomes, including decreasing distress, perceived partner control/criticism and distancing, and increasing self-efficacy. Less avoidant individuals were resilient and experienced better outcomes regardless of the level of partner support they received. These results demonstrate the utility of curvilinear models in reconciling the costs and benefits of support, and indicate that high levels of practical support can overcome the defenses of highly avoidant individuals by offering undeniable evidence of the partner's availability.

Abilities in Romantic Relationships and Well-Being Among Emerging Adults

“…Given the role of self-efficacy, self-efficacy in romantic relationships may influence broad aspects of relationships such as communication, behaviors, emotional responses, physical interactions, and progression toward commitment. Self-efficacy has been applied to romantic relationships as positively associated with ability to solve conflict with the relationship partner (Cui, Fincham, & Pasley, 2008), increased level of commitment to and subsequent satisfaction with the romantic relationship (Lopez, Morúa, & Rice, 2007), and increased social support from the romantic partner (Girme, Overall, Simpson, & Fletcher, 2015). Moreover, Riggio et al (2013, p. 632) noted that "individuals who believe that their behaviors will effectively maintain relationship satisfaction and positivity have efficacy in relationships."…”

When power shapes interpersonal behavior: Low relationship power predicts men’s aggressive responses to low situational power.

“…Following previously used measures to index greater support need (Collins & Feeney, 2000, 2004; Feeney, 2004; Crockett & Neff, 2012; Girme, Overall & Simpson, 2013; Girme, Overall, Simpson & Fletcher, 2015), we assessed participants’ distress during couples’ discussions and feelings of hopelessness regarding their personal goal. Greater distress and hopelessness signal a greater need for help in order to cope with and overcome the challenges associated with goal pursuit, and thus are associated with greater dependence on the partner’s support to alleviate distress and generate goal-related efficacy (e.g., Bar-Kalifa & Rafaeli, 2014; Girme et al, 2013; Cutrona et al, 2007).…”

Tie-Up Cycles in Long-Term Mating. Part I: Theory

“…As a rule, attachment anxious people perceive higher conflict and quicker escalation and become more stressed, but are more positively sensitive to support [88]. Highly attachment-avoidant people (but not moderately attachment-avoidant ones) are on the contrary negatively sensitive to partner support, but respond positively to uncommonly high levels of support [89]. Avoidant people are also sensitive to partners' emotional buffering through softened communication, suggesting that skillful regulation has a central role in de-structuring conflict within the couple, even with defensive partners [90].…”