The Relationship Between Romantic Attachment, Intimacy, and Dyadic Adjustment for Female Sexual Function

Ribeiro, Filipe Nunes; Sousa‐Gomes, Valéria; Moreira, Diana; Oliveira, Susana; Fávero, Marisalva

doi:10.1007/s13178-022-00738-3

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…A few recent studies of long-term relationships indicate that sex is not associated with relationship satisfaction beyond a minimum amount or among couples who have sex at least once per week [60,61]. In long-term bonds, the link between sexual frequency and relationship satisfaction appears to operate much like the well-documented effect of income on happiness [46,62]. Having more sex is better to a point, beyond which it is no longer predictive of relationship satisfaction or individual happiness.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Insecure avoidance is characterized by cognitions and behaviors that dismiss the importance of the attachment relationship and promote emotional distance from partners. Not surprisingly, both of these insecure attachment styles consistently and robustly predict lower relationship satisfaction [42][43][44] and poorer quality sexual experiences [27,[45][46][47]. Paradoxically, some studies have found positive associations between anxious attachment and sexual frequency [48,49]: an outcome that is attributed to sexual behavior being used either as a reparative mechanism to diffuse conflict or as a strategy to pursue unmet attachment needs [50].…”

Section: Individual Differences By Attachment Stylementioning

confidence: 99%

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Romantic Duration, Relationship Quality, and Attachment Insecurity among Dating Couples

Freeman

Simons

Benson

2023

IJERPH

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For many young adults today dating is not taken as a path to marriage, but as a relationship to be considered on its own terms with a beginning, middle, and end. Yet, research has not kept pace as most studies that look at relationships over time focus on marriages. In the present study, we look at individual differences and normative patterns of dating relationship quality over time. We tested a path model of associations between relationship duration, attachment insecurity, and four relationship quality domains (sexual frequency, commitment, satisfaction, and companionship) among a large sample of dating young adults (N = 1345). Based on a conceptual model of romantic relationship development, results supported expectations that dating trajectories are curvilinear, with unique patterns of accent, peak, and decent for each relationship domain. Dating duration also moderated the relationship between dating quality and attachment insecurity with anxious attachment becoming a more salient predictor of lower satisfaction and lower commitment in long-term versus short-term relationships. A quadratic interaction with sexual frequency indicated that insecurity predicted less sexual activity in new relationships, more activity among relationships between two and four years, but then less again in longer-term relationships. Findings suggest patterns of stability and change in dating relationships during emerging adulthood that complement those observed from the marriage literature.

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