This study examined the relation between attachment characteristics and intimacy experienced after one’s attachment style is activated. Attachment theory states that when an individual feels threatened by an attachment figure, attachment style is activated and dictates how that individual relates to his or her partner in that situation. This study tests this theory. Data were collected on 110 committed romantic couples from the community. Each individual completed a series of questionnaires, including the Adult Attachment Questionnaire. Couples then engaged in a series of four videotaped interactions in which both partners had an opportunity to discuss times in which their feelings were hurt by someone other than their partner and times in which their feelings were hurt by their partner. These interactions were regarded as low- and high-risk, respectively. The high-risk interaction was specifically targeted to activate attachment style and elicit attachment behaviors. Analyses were conducted using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). This model takes into account the interdependence of observations between partners. As a function of this model, both actor effects (the effect one’s own attachment style has on one’s own experiences of intimacy) and partner effects (the effect one’s own attachment style has on one’s partner’s experiences of intimacy) were examined. Intimacy was conceptualized in two different manners: state (post-interaction intimacy) and trait (overall intimacy in the relationship). It was hypothesized that individuals with insecure attachment characteristics would report lower feelings of both state and trait intimacy compared to securely attached individuals. It was also predicted that the partners of individuals with insecure attachment characteristics would report lower state and trait intimacy following the high-risk interaction compared to partners of secure individuals. The results of this study supported these hypotheses. Models testing the effect of the attachment characteristics avoidance, ambivalence, and avoidance-x-ambivalence found a relation between the presence of insecure attachment characteristics and lower levels of both state and trait intimacy. Implications of these results and future directions of study are discussed.

This study examined the relation between attachment characteristics and intimacy experienced after one’s attachment style is activated. Attachment theory states that when an individual feels threatened by an attachment figure, attachment style is activated and dictates how that individual relates to his or her partner in that situation. This study tests this theory. Data were collected on 110 committed romantic couples from the community. Each individual completed a series of questionnaires, including the Adult Attachment Questionnaire. Couples then engaged in a series of four videotaped interactions in which both partners had an opportunity to discuss times in which their feelings were hurt by someone other than their partner and times in which their feelings were hurt by their partner. These interactions were regarded as low- and high-risk, respectively. The high-risk interaction was specifically targeted to activate attachment style and elicit attachment behaviors. Analyses were conducted using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM). This model takes into account the interdependence of observations between partners. As a function of this model, both actor effects (the effect one’s own attachment style has on one’s own experiences of intimacy) and partner effects (the effect one’s own attachment style has on one’s partner’s experiences of intimacy) were examined. Intimacy was conceptualized in two different manners: state (post-interaction intimacy) and trait (overall intimacy in the relationship). It was hypothesized that individuals with insecure attachment characteristics would report lower feelings of both state and trait intimacy compared to securely attached individuals. It was also predicted that the partners of individuals with insecure attachment characteristics would report lower state and trait intimacy following the high-risk interaction compared to partners of secure individuals. The results of this study supported these hypotheses. Models testing the effect of the attachment characteristics avoidance, ambivalence, and avoidance-x-ambivalence found a relation between the presence of insecure attachment characteristics and lower levels of both state and trait intimacy. Implications of these results and future directions of study are discussed.

This is a longitudinal cross-lagged panel model examining the bi-directional association of attachment styles and relationship quality in a community sample of 355 married couples, with at least one child between 10-14 years of age at the beginning of the study and 17-21 years of age at the end of the study. An Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM), was used to test for actor and partner effects, thereby accounting for the non-independent nature of the data. Two separate APIM models were tested with Male Attachment predicting Female Relationship Quality and Female Attachment predicting Male Relationship Quality. Results indicate that own attachment was a stronger predictor of partner relationship quality over time than was own relationship quality to partner attachment; although male relationship quality did predict female attachment from T1 to T3, it was not significant at all other time points. Clinical implications and future research are discussed.

No description available.

Michelangelo Phenomenon provides an interpersonal model of goal pursuits and suggests that close partners sculpt one another and help them move toward their ideal selves. Attachment theory also provides a parallel explanation of how close others can help one another move toward their goals. The purpose of the current research was to look at the influence of attachment on the Michelangelo Phenomenon and test whether it best fit as a predictor, mediator, or moderator. The hypotheses were tested across three studies (two longitudinal and one cross-sectional) using a maximum likelihood estimation path analysis following APIM assumptions. The results provided strong support for the link between attachment and the Michelangelo Phenomenon. Across three studies, attachment acted as a predictor of the Michelangelo Phenomenon with higher levels of attachment anxiety and avoidance predicting lower levels of affirmation. Relevance to therapy and future directions are also discussed.

This study explored the relations among young adults' perceptions of differential parental treatment, temperamental style, attitudes toward their childhood and current sibling relationships, and psychological adjustment. Participants included 87 college students and their siblings between the ages of 18 and 25 years. Students completed measures in small groups, and siblings completed the surveys via mail. The data were analyzed using the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM; Kashy & Kenny, 1999). Results revealed that participants' perceptions of their sibling relationship during childhood were related to their current attitudes toward the relationship. In addition, siblings were in agreement regarding their overall attitudes toward the sibling relationship as well as in their perceptions of their interactions with their parents. Siblings' reports higher levels of differential maternal and paternal control were related significantly to perceptions of less positive sibling interactions. Females and individuals with a sister reported higher levels of positivity in the sibling relationship than did males and individuals reporting on a brother. Level of psychological adjustment was found to be better for individuals who experienced more paternal control according to their sibling. Temperamental characteristics were found to be related to attitudes toward the sibling relationship and reports of parenting behaviors. Results are discussed within the context of family-based research regarding parent-child and sibling relationships.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether adult attachment style, psychological abuse in the marriage, conflict resolution strategies, and gender are associated with relational quality in childless couples in the early years of their marriage. Data were collected from 92 married couples who were recruited from university campuses, churches, and community organizations through e-mails, flyers, newspaper advertisements and mailings. Conceptualizing the interdependence of dyadic data from the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM), multilevel linear modeling (MLM) was used to analyze differences within and between couples. It was hypothesized that higher levels of attachment anxiety or avoidance, psychological abuse, and maladaptive conflict resolution strategies would be associated with lower relational quality. Results indicated that attachment avoidance had stronger associations with relational quality than did attachment anxiety, and that higher levels of attachment avoidance were associated with lower relational quality. Additionally, findings indicated a direct negative relationship between both actor and partner psychological abuse and the actor's relational quality. The discussion section addresses strengths and limitations of the present study as well as directions for future research.

To explore relational processes of couple’s satisfaction this study drew on the relational spirituality framework (Mahoney, 2010) in order to test a relational religiosity model to evaluate the effects of public, private, ideological, intellectual, and experiential religiosity that were mediated by relational virtues of commitment, sacrifice, forgiveness, and sanctification and relational equality on couple’s satisfaction in two cultures. Data for this component used convenience samples of English-speaking respondents (hereafter American sample; n = 1,529) and Russian-speaking respondents (hereafter Russian sample; n = 529). Results provided evidence to partially support relational religiosity model; specifically commitment, while a statistically significant intervening element, worked alongside other relational virtues such as (a) sanctification, as hypothesized, to positively mediate the indirect effect of ideological religiosity on couple’s satisfaction for the American men, (β = .17, 95% BCa CI [.11, .24], p < .001); (b) sanctification, as hypothesized, to positively mediate the indirect effect of experiential religiosity for the Russian men (β = .39, 95% BCa CI [.12, .65], p = .002); and (c) sacrifice and forgiveness, contrary to the hypotheses, to negatively mediate the indirect (β = -.20, 95% BCa CI [-.35, -.06], p = .005) and total (β = -.27, 95% BCa CI [-.43, -.12], p = .001) effects of ideological religiosity on couple’s satisfaction among Russian women. The second approach to this topic followed the family systems perspective, to examine the effect of religiosity on respondents’ own and their partners’ satisfaction with the relationship via the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) (Kenny, Kashy, & Cook, 2006). This dyadic approach used samples of 435 American couples (n = 870) and 129 Russian couples (n = 258). The results provided evidence to support an actor effect of husbands’ religiosity on their own couple’s satisfaction for the American (t = 2.00, p = .046, β = .15, 95% CI [.01, .29]) and Russian (t = 3.65, p < .001, β = .45, 95% CI [.21, .70]) husbands. Moreover, APIM testing provided sufficient evidence to support a positive partner effect in that husband’s religiosity predicted their wives’ satisfaction with the relationship in the American (t = 2.06, p = .041, β = .17, 95% CI [.01, .33]) and Russian (t = 2.77, p = .006, β = .37, 95% CI [.11, .64]) couples. The parallels between the cultures strongly resembled existing cross-cultural dyadic scholarship providing compelling evidence to support cultural similarities rather than differences and suggesting that cross-cultural relational dissimilarities might not exist in the ways religiosity is linked to couple’s satisfaction; however, the differences between male and female respondents in each culture might be worth studying further. Additionally, this dissertation’s results and scholarship mentioned above reveal that religiosity and couple’s satisfaction may be indifferent to cultural variations suggesting these phenomena may be universal rather than culture-specific. Outcomes of this dissertation may benefit researchers, educators, policy makers, and practitioners who are interested in relationship virtues and religiosity's effect on couple’s satisfaction, which is known to provide a positive connection to the psychological, social, physical, and spiritual well-being of couples.

Esta tese tem como objetivos verificar as propriedades psicométricas dos instrumentos de bem-estar: Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (BMSLSS) e Core Affects Scale (CAS); apresentar o bem-estar nos grupos de pais e filhos adolescentes; e verificar a relação entre o bem-estar subjetivo de pais e seus filhos adolescentes a partir de diferentes medidas de avaliação. Foram realizados três estudos, com 543 adolescentes com idades entre 12 e 16 anos (68,3% meninas) e seus respectivos pais, com idade média aproximada de 44 anos. Os resultados apontam que o PWI e as escalas SWLS, BMSLSS e CAS apresentam, no geral, bons índices de ajuste quando da realização da análise fatorial (exploratória e confirmatória) para a amostra de adolescentes e para a de pais. Verificam-se diferenças significativas entre as médias de diferentes domínios de bem-estar, sendo as médias mais altas para os adolescentes do que para os pais. Com relação às diferenças por sexo, para as medidas de bem-estar globais observa-se que tanto as meninas como as mães apresentam médias mais baixas do que os meninos e os pais. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas por idade para os adolescentes e para os pais, apesar de haver uma diminuição nas médias de diversas medidas para os adolescentes com o aumento dos 12 aos 16 anos. Houve diferenças para classe social, sendo as médias de bem-estar mais baixas para os participantes de classe média baixa. Especificamente, há diferenças entre a interação de classe social e sexo, e as participantes do sexo feminino de classe média baixa apresentam as menores médias de bem-estar. Finalmente, a relação entre o bem-estar de pais e filhos foi analisada, chegando-se a 5 itens que apresentam correlação de 0,41 entre pais e filhos: a satisfação com a família, com o lugar onde vive, com as condições onde vive, com o nível de vida e com a segurança, formando uma dimensão denominada de satisfação com o microssistema. Os resultados para os modelos de interdependência ator-parceiro (APIM) apresentam efeitos significativos entre a satisfação e a felicidade global com a vida dos pais e o bem-estar dos filhos adolescentes, apesar de pequenos. / This thesis aims to examine the psychometric properties of the well-being instruments: Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (BMSLSS) and Core Affects Scale (CAS); to present the well-being in the groups of parents and children, and to verify the relation of the subjective well-being of parents and their adolescent children using different assessment measures. Three studies were conducted with 543 adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years (68.3% girls) and their respective parents with an average age of approximately 44 years. The main results show that the scales SWLS, PWI, BMSLSS and CAS have good overall fit indices when performing factor analysis (exploratory and confirmatory) for the sample of adolescents and parents. There are significant differences between the averages of different well-being domains and the averages are higher for teenagers than for parents mostly. With respect to gender differences, for some of the measures of well-being it is observed that girls as mothers present lower average than boys and parents. Considering age, in general there were no significant differences found for adolescents and parents, despite a decrease in the mean for several measures for adolescents when increasing age. There were differences in social class, and the means of well-being are lower for participants from lower middle class. Specifically, there are differences between the interaction of social class and gender, and female participants from lower middle class have lower average well-being. Finally, the relationship between the well-being of parents and children was analyzed, reaching up to 5 items that show a correlation of 0.41 between parents and children: satisfaction with family, where you live, with the conditions of where you live, with the standard of living and security, forming a dimension called satisfaction with the microsystem. The results for the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) show significant effects between the overall satisfaction and happiness with life of parents and the well-being of adolescent children, though small.

Esta tese tem como objetivos verificar as propriedades psicométricas dos instrumentos de bem-estar: Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (BMSLSS) e Core Affects Scale (CAS); apresentar o bem-estar nos grupos de pais e filhos adolescentes; e verificar a relação entre o bem-estar subjetivo de pais e seus filhos adolescentes a partir de diferentes medidas de avaliação. Foram realizados três estudos, com 543 adolescentes com idades entre 12 e 16 anos (68,3% meninas) e seus respectivos pais, com idade média aproximada de 44 anos. Os resultados apontam que o PWI e as escalas SWLS, BMSLSS e CAS apresentam, no geral, bons índices de ajuste quando da realização da análise fatorial (exploratória e confirmatória) para a amostra de adolescentes e para a de pais. Verificam-se diferenças significativas entre as médias de diferentes domínios de bem-estar, sendo as médias mais altas para os adolescentes do que para os pais. Com relação às diferenças por sexo, para as medidas de bem-estar globais observa-se que tanto as meninas como as mães apresentam médias mais baixas do que os meninos e os pais. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas por idade para os adolescentes e para os pais, apesar de haver uma diminuição nas médias de diversas medidas para os adolescentes com o aumento dos 12 aos 16 anos. Houve diferenças para classe social, sendo as médias de bem-estar mais baixas para os participantes de classe média baixa. Especificamente, há diferenças entre a interação de classe social e sexo, e as participantes do sexo feminino de classe média baixa apresentam as menores médias de bem-estar. Finalmente, a relação entre o bem-estar de pais e filhos foi analisada, chegando-se a 5 itens que apresentam correlação de 0,41 entre pais e filhos: a satisfação com a família, com o lugar onde vive, com as condições onde vive, com o nível de vida e com a segurança, formando uma dimensão denominada de satisfação com o microssistema. Os resultados para os modelos de interdependência ator-parceiro (APIM) apresentam efeitos significativos entre a satisfação e a felicidade global com a vida dos pais e o bem-estar dos filhos adolescentes, apesar de pequenos. / This thesis aims to examine the psychometric properties of the well-being instruments: Personal Wellbeing Index (PWI), Satisfaction With Life Scale (SWLS), Brief Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale (BMSLSS) and Core Affects Scale (CAS); to present the well-being in the groups of parents and children, and to verify the relation of the subjective well-being of parents and their adolescent children using different assessment measures. Three studies were conducted with 543 adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years (68.3% girls) and their respective parents with an average age of approximately 44 years. The main results show that the scales SWLS, PWI, BMSLSS and CAS have good overall fit indices when performing factor analysis (exploratory and confirmatory) for the sample of adolescents and parents. There are significant differences between the averages of different well-being domains and the averages are higher for teenagers than for parents mostly. With respect to gender differences, for some of the measures of well-being it is observed that girls as mothers present lower average than boys and parents. Considering age, in general there were no significant differences found for adolescents and parents, despite a decrease in the mean for several measures for adolescents when increasing age. There were differences in social class, and the means of well-being are lower for participants from lower middle class. Specifically, there are differences between the interaction of social class and gender, and female participants from lower middle class have lower average well-being. Finally, the relationship between the well-being of parents and children was analyzed, reaching up to 5 items that show a correlation of 0.41 between parents and children: satisfaction with family, where you live, with the conditions of where you live, with the standard of living and security, forming a dimension called satisfaction with the microsystem. The results for the actor-partner interdependence model (APIM) show significant effects between the overall satisfaction and happiness with life of parents and the well-being of adolescent children, though small.