This study examined the association between individual attachment and
interactive conflict styles and the overall influence on marital satisfaction in 207 married
individuals. The application of attachment theory to this study of adult romantic
relationships was established via factor analysis and yielded two dimensions: self
(anxiety) and other (avoidance). Accommodation and demand-withdraw were the two
forms of conflict interaction studied, which, respectively, are constructive and
destructive styles of engagement that impact marital satisfaction. Individuals completed
self-report measures of attachment, accommodation, demand-withdraw and global
marital satisfaction. The current study yielded statistically significant results and
supported all of the research hypotheses. There were negative relationships found
between the attachment dimensions of anxiety and avoidance and total accommodation,
while positive relationships were determined between both attachment dimensions and
demand-withdraw behaviors. In relationship to marital satisfaction, an individual's total
accommodation was positively related, while demand-withdraw behaviors were
inversely associated. There were also inverse relationships found between both the attachment dimensions and marital satisfaction. These findings suggest that the data are
consistent with previous research on attachment, accommodation, demand-withdraw
behavior and marital satisfaction. In addition to supporting prior findings, this study also
had several unique contributions. A statistically significant relationship was found
between the constructive and destructive conflict styles, which suggested total
accommodation was associated with lower levels of demand-withdraw. In addition, a
path model for the variables of attachment, accommodation, demand-withdraw and
marital satisfaction was developed. This display of variables is especially useful in
showing the bidirectionality of constructive and destructive behaviors in marriage.
Research implications for these findings are presented and suggestions for future
research are discussed.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:tamu.edu/oai:repository.tamu.edu:1969.1/ETD-TAMU-1763 |
| Date | 02 June 2009 |
| Creators | Crowley, Anne Katherine |
| Contributors | Duffy, Michael |
| Source Sets | Texas A and M University |
| Language | en_US |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Book, Thesis, Electronic Dissertation, text |
| Format | electronic, application/pdf, born digital |
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