Attachment, caregiving, and relationship functioning in couples: Effects of self and partner

Abstract

We examined the links among attachment, caregiving, and relationship functioning in both dating (Study 1) and married couples (Study 2), assessing both partners' perspectives. We found that (1) men and women generally evidenced caregiving characteristics similar to those of their parent% especially their same‐sex parent; (2) individuals who reported giving more care to their partner evidenced less fearful‐avoidant attachment (Studies 1 and 2) and less preoccupation with attachment (Study 2); and (3) individuals' own attachment models and their partner's attachment models and caregiving jointly predicted relationship functioning, but individuals' own attachment models remained strong predictors even after the partner's attachment and caregiving were taken into account. The results suggest that caregiving learned in childhood attachment relationships may be carried forward into adult romantic relationships, and they support the idea that attachment and caregiving are central components of romantic love.

Investigating the Interpersonal Dynamics Between Coaches and Athletes Based on Fundamental Principles of Attachment

“…Research findings indicate that secure attachment is positively associated with committed and satisfied relationships, while insecure attachment (a combination of anxious-ambivalent and avoidant attachment patterns) is positively associated with poorer quality relationships (Carnelley, Pietromonaco, & Jaffe, 1996;Collins, 1996;Collins & Read, 1990;Davidovitz et al, 2007;Simpson, 1990). Such research highlights that those with anxious-ambivalent and avoidant attachment patterns experience their relationships differentially, in that adults with avoidant attachment patterns report less commitment and satisfaction than adults with anxious-ambivalent attachment patterns.…”

Adult Romantic Attachment: Theoretical Developments, Emerging Controversies, and Unanswered Questions

“…There was also evidence in Feeney's study that attachment and caregiving have roots in different aspects of childhood experiences with parents. Carnelley, Pietromonaco, and Jaffe (1996), using slightly different measures of caregiving, found that people evidenced caregiving qualities similar to those of their parents, especially their same-sex parent, and that those qualities were associated with current relationship functioning. Camelley et al (1996) concluded that their results "support the idea that attachment and caregiving are central components of romantic love" (p. 257).…”

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

“…Fincham et al [69] show, for example, how the level of marital satisfaction crucially controls the kind of attributional bias, which is more benign for the other compared to self in case of a happy relationship, but more negative for the other compared to self in case of a distressful one. On the other hand, the attachment perspective reveals how romantic relationships are directly affected by experiences at pivotal stages of individual developmental histories, as well as by the care-giving style of subjects' same-sex parent [70]. This determines a virtuous vs. vicious circle of affective development moving from security of attachment in early childhood to development of social competence in infancy, to security of relationships in adolescence, and to quality of emotional experiences in early adulthood [71].…”