Under, Over, or Optimal Commitment? Attachment Insecurities and Commitment Issues in Relationally Distressed Couples

Bergeron, Sophie; Brassard, Audrey; Mondor, Josianne; Péloquin, Katherine

doi:10.1080/0092623x.2019.1683664

Cited by 14 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…These results are consistent with many cross-sectional studies demonstrating that attachment avoidance is widely associated with lower relationship commitment (see Mikulincer & Shaver, 2016 for a review). Bergeron et al (2019) also obtained the same cross-sectional associations in their study using relationally distressed couples. Our prospective results suggest that the unique and stressful period of the TTP could intensify the negative consequences of one’s attachment avoidance by reducing optimal commitment and increasing under-commitment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

“…That is, this model might allow us to identify decreases in certain aspects of partners’ commitment during the TTP while also allowing us to pinpoint specific aspects of commitment that are maintained or increased when welcoming the newborn. So far, one study by Bergeron, Brassard, Mondor, and Péloquin (2019) has examined attachment insecurities and commitment using the MCCM in a sample of mixed-sex couples experiencing significant relational distress. The researchers found that in women, attachment avoidance was negatively linked to their own over-commitment and attachment anxiety was positively linked to both their own over- and own under-commitment.…”

Section: Commitmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Individuals’ own higher attachment anxiety was associated with their partner’s higher under-committed and lower optimal committed. Individuals’ own higher avoidance was also associated with their partner’s higher over-commitment (Bergeron et al, 2019). These results add nuance to the conflicting links between attachment anxiety and commitment.…”

Section: Commitmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Changes in Attachment and Commitment in Couples Transitioning to Parenthood

Thériault

Brassard

Gingras

et al. 2021

Journal of Family Issues

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This study examined whether attachment predicts changes in commitment and whether commitment predicts changes in attachment in both partners during the transition to parenthood. Both partners of 93 couples completed online questionnaires individually at the second trimester of pregnancy and at 4 months postpartum. Autoregressive cross-lagged path analyses based on the Actor–Partner Interdependence Model tested the bidirectional associations between attachment dimensions (anxiety and avoidance) and three modes of commitment (optimal, over-commitment, and under-commitment). Results revealed that for both partners, prenatal attachment avoidance was associated with a decrease in optimal commitment and an increase in under-commitment from pre- to postpartum. Fathers’ attachment anxiety was associated with a decrease in mothers’ under-commitment. Furthermore, prenatal optimal commitment was associated with a decrease in attachment avoidance, whereas under-commitment was associated with an increase in attachment avoidance. Fathers’ prenatal over-commitment was associated with an increase in their own attachment anxiety and avoidance. These results highlight how attachment insecurities and relationship commitment interrelate during this major transition.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 90%

Section: Commitmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Commitmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Changes in Attachment and Commitment in Couples Transitioning to Parenthood

Thériault

Brassard

Gingras

et al. 2021

Journal of Family Issues

Self Cite

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“…De façon cohérente avec les hypothèses et les écrits recensés, les résultats révèlent que l’évitement de l’intimité des jeunes adultes est directement lié à moins d’engagement optimal et à plus de sous-engagement. Ces liens directs appuient les études antérieures révélant que les individus présentant de l’évitement de l’intimité se disent sous-engagés (Bergeron et al, 2020), s’attendent à l’échec de la relation (Birnie et al, 2009), doutent des bénéfices apportés par une relation à long terme (Spielmann et al, 2013) et tentent de réprimer toute détresse émotionnelle découlant de leurs besoins affectifs non comblés (Mikulincer & Shaver, 2016). Il est donc possible qu’ils adoptent des stratégies de mise à distance pour éviter la proximité émotionnelle avec leur partenaire ou pour confirmer leurs attentes quant à l’échec de sa relation (Birnie et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionunclassified

Rôle médiateur de la sursexualisation dans les liens entre l’attachement et l’engagement conjugal des jeunes adultes.

Brassard¹,

Pétrin²,

Loisel³

et al. 2021

Canadian Journal of Behavioural Science / Revue canadienne des

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Les changements socioculturels des dernières décennies ont transformé la façon dont les jeunes adultes s’engagent dans leurs relations amoureuses. Des études ont révélé des liens entre l’attachement amoureux et l’engagement conjugal. Pourtant, les mécanismes explicatifs de ces liens demeurent fragmentaires. La présente étude explore le rôle médiateur des conduites sursexualisées dans les liens unissant l’attachement amoureux et l’engagement conjugal des adultes de 18 à 30 ans. Pour ce faire, 722 jeunes adultes québécois en couple ont complété des questionnaires en ligne. Les résultats révèlent que l’anxiété d’abandon est liée directement et positivement au surengagement et au sous-engagement conjugal en plus d’être liée indirectement au surengagement par le biais de l’objectification sexuelle et de la sexualité axée sur la performance. Par ailleurs, l’évitement de l’intimité est lié directement et négativement à l’engagement optimal et positivement au sous-engagement conjugal tout en étant lié indirectement à ces deux modes d’engagement par le biais d’une attitude séductrice et d’un faible sens intime accordé à la sexualité. Ces résultats soulignent la contribution des conduites sursexualisées pour comprendre les liens entre les insécurités d’attachement et les difficultés d’engagement des jeunes adultes.

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“…According to recent meta-analyses, secure attachment (i.e., low scores on both avoidant and anxious dimensions) is associated with higher relationship satisfaction than attachments characterized by anxious or avoidant insecurity (Candel & Turliuc, 2019; Hadden et al, 2014). Moreover, attachment security is positively reflected in relationship stability (Bergeron et al, 2020), commitment (Hadden et al, 2014; Tran & Simpson, 2009), and sexual satisfaction (Busby et al, 2020; Feeney, 2002; Gewirtz-Meydan & Finzi-Dottan, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The self-fulfilling prophecy of insecurity: Mediation effects of conflict communication styles on the association between adult attachment and relationship adjustment

Fišerová

Fiala

Fayette

et al. 2021

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

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This study examines associations between the dimensions of insecure attachment (anxiety, avoidance) and dyadic adjustment, with a potential mediating effect of conflict communication style. Dyadic analyses and mediation tests were performed on data from 97 Czech and Slovak long-term heterosexual couples. Attachment dimensions were measured by Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised measure (ECR-R-16), six conflict communication styles by the Romantic Partner Conflict Scale (RPCS), and dyadic adjustment by the Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS). We confirmed previous findings according to which in both sexes, attachment anxiety and avoidance have a negative effect on dyadic adjustment. We also found that women’s anxiety is negatively associated with their partner’s dyadic adjustment. Our mediation tests showed that in both sexes, the association between attachment anxiety and low dyadic adjustment was partially mediated by a reactive conflict communication style. Moreover, the association between attachment avoidance and low dyadic adjustment in women was partially mediated by both the reactive and compromising communication styles. These results are discussed in the context of behavioral and emotional characteristics of both attachment insecurities and gender differences in interpersonal behavior.

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Under, Over, or Optimal Commitment? Attachment Insecurities and Commitment Issues in Relationally Distressed Couples

Cited by 14 publications

References 45 publications

Changes in Attachment and Commitment in Couples Transitioning to Parenthood

Changes in Attachment and Commitment in Couples Transitioning to Parenthood

Rôle médiateur de la sursexualisation dans les liens entre l’attachement et l’engagement conjugal des jeunes adultes.

The self-fulfilling prophecy of insecurity: Mediation effects of conflict communication styles on the association between adult attachment and relationship adjustment

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