Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic presents acute, ongoing relationship challenges. The current research tested how (1) preexisting vulnerabilities assessed prior to the pandemic (attachment insecurity) and (2) stress as couples endured a mandated quarantine predicted residual changes in relationship functioning. Controlling for prequarantine problems, relationship quality, and family environment, greater partners’ attachment anxiety predicted greater relationship problems, lower relationship quality, and a less stable and cohesive family environment when people were experiencing more stress. Greater partners’ attachment avoidance predicted lower problem-solving efficacy and family cohesion. The effects of partners’ preexisting vulnerabilities and pandemic-related stress demonstrate the utility of key models in relationship science in identifying who is at most risk of relationship problems in the unprecedented context of a mandated quarantine. The results emphasize that the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on relationship functioning will be shaped by the characteristics of partners with whom people are confined with during the pandemic.

Keywords

COVID-19 quarantine attachment insecurity stress relationship problems partner effects

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Barton

A. W.

Bryant

C. M.

(2016). Financial strain, trajectories of marital processes, and African American newlyweds’ marital instability. Journal of Family Psychology, 30(6), 657–664. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000190

Barton

A. W.

Futris

T. G.

Nielsen

R. B.

(2015). Linking financial distress to marital quality: The intermediary roles of demand/withdraw and spousal gratitude expressions. Personal Relationships, 22(3), 536–549. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12094

Beck

L. A.

Pietromonaco

P. R.

DeBuse

C. J.

Powers

S. I.

Sayer

A. G.

(2013). Spouses’ attachment pairings predict neuroendocrine, behavioral, and psychological responses to marital conflict. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 105(3), 388–424. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0033056

Beck

L. A.

Pietromonaco

P. R.

DeVito

C. C.

Powers

S. I.

Boyle

A. M.

(2014). Congruence between spouses’ perceptions and observers’ ratings of responsiveness: The role of attachment avoidance. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 40(2), 164–174. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167213507779

Bodenmann

Ledermann

Bradbury

T. N.

(2007). Stress, sex, and satisfaction in marriage. Personal Relationships, 14(4), 551–569. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2007.00171.x

Bodenmann

Meuwly

Germann

Nussbeck

F. W.

Heinrichs

Bradbury

T. N.

(2015). Effects of stress on the social support provided by men and women in intimate relationships. Psychological Science, 26(10), 1584–1594. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797615594616

Buck

A. A.

Neff

L. A.

(2012). Stress spillover in early marriage: The role of self-regulatory depletion. Journal of Family Psychology, 26(5), 698–708. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0029260

Butzer

Campbell

(2008). Adult attachment, sexual satisfaction, and relationship satisfaction: A study of married couples. Personal Relationships, 15(1), 141–154. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2007.00189.x

Campbell

Simpson

J. A.

Boldry

Kashy

D. A.

(2005). Perceptions of conflict and support in romantic relationships: The role of attachment anxiety. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 88(3), 510–531. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.88.3.510

10.

Carnelley

K. B.

Pietromonaco

P. R.

Jaffe

- (1996). Attachment, caregiving, and relationship functioning in couples: Effects of self and partner. Personal Relationships, 3(3), 257–278. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.1996.tb00116.x

11.

Collins

N. L.

Feeney

B. C.

(2004). Working models of attachment shape perceptions of social support: Evidence from experimental and observational studies. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 87(3), 363–383. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.87.3.363

12.

Cross

E. J.

Overall

N. C.

Low

R. S. T.

Henderson

A. M. E.

(2020). Relationship problems, agreement and bias in perceptions of partners’ parental responsiveness, and family functioning. Journal of Family Psychology. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000812

13.

Falconier

M. K.

Nussbeck

Bodenmann

Schneider

Bradbury

T. N.

(2015). Stress from daily hassles in couples: Its effects on intradyadic stress, relationship satisfaction, and physical and psychological well-being. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 41(2), 221–235. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12073

14.

Farrell

M. P.

Barnes

G. M.

(1993). Family systems and social support: A test of the effects of cohesion and adaptability on the functioning of parents and adolescents. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 55(1), 119–132. https://doi.org/10.2307/352963

15.

Fincham

F. D.

Harold

G. T.

Gano-Phillips

(2000). The longitudinal association between attributions and marital satisfaction: Direction of effects and role of efficacy expectations. Journal of Family Psychology, 14(2), 267–285.

16.

Fletcher

G. J.

Simpson

J. A.

Thomas

(2000). The measurement of perceived relationship quality components: A confirmatory factor analytic approach. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 26, 340–354.

17.

Geiss

S. K.

O’Leary

K. D.

(1981). Therapist ratings of frequency and severity of marital problems: Implications for research. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 7, 515–520.

18.

Girme

Y. U.

Overall

N. C.

Simpson

J. A.

Fletcher

G. J. O.

(2015). “All or nothing”: Attachment avoidance and the curvilinear effects of partner support. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(3), 450–475. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0038866

19.

IJzerman

Lewis

N. A.

Weinstein

DeBruine

Ritchie

S. J.

Vazire

Forscher

P. S.

Morey

R. D.

Ivory

J. D.

Anvari

Przybylski

A. K.

(2020). Is social and behavioural science evidence ready for application and dissemination? Unpublished manuscript. https://doi.org/10.31234/osf.io/whds4

20.

Jayamaha

S. D.

Antonellis

Overall

N. C.

(2016). Attachment insecurity and inducing guilt to produce desired change in romantic partners. Personal Relationships, 23(2), 311–338. https://doi-org.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/10.1111/pere.12128

21.

Jayamaha

S. D.

Girme

Y. U.

Overall

N. C.

(2017). When attachment anxiety impedes support provision: The role of feeling unvalued and unappreciated. Journal of Family Psychology, 31(2), 181–191. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000222

22.

Joel

Eastwick

P. W.

Allison

C. J.

Arriaga

X. B.

Baker

Z. G.

Bar-Kalifa

Bergeron

Birnbaum

G. E.

Brock

R. L.

Brumbaugh

C. C.

Carmichael

C. L.

Chen

Clarke

Cobb

R. J.

Coolsen

M. K.

Davis

de Jong

D. C.

Debrot

DeHaas

E. C.

… Wolf

(2020). Machine learning uncovers the most robust self-report predictors of relationship quality across 43 longitudinal couples studies. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(32), 19061–19071

23.

Karney

B. R.

Bradbury

T. N.

(1995). The longitudinal course of marital quality and stability: A review of theory, methods, and research. Psychological Bulletin, 118(1), 3–34. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.118.1.3

24.

Kenny

D. A.

Kashy

D. A.

Cook

W. L.

(2006). Dyadic data analysis. Guilford Press.

25.

Lemay

E. P.

Dudley

K. L.

(2011). Caution: Fragile! Regulating the interpersonal security of chronically insecure partners. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 100(4), 681–702. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021655

26.

Low

R. S. T.

Overall

N. C.

Cross

E. J.

Henderson

A. M. E.

(2019). Emotion regulation, conflict resolution, and spillover on subsequent family functioning. Emotion, 19(7), 1162–1182. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000519

27.

Marsh

Dobson

Maddison

(2020). The relationship between household chaos and child, parent, and family outcomes: A systematic scoping review. BMC Public Health, 20(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08587-8

28.

Masarik

A. S.

Martin

M. J.

Ferrer

Lorenz

F. O.

Conger

K. J.

Conger

R. D.

(2016). Couple resilience to economic pressure over time and across generations. Journal of Marriage and Family, 78(2), 326–345. https://doi.org/10.1111/jomf.12284

29.

Matheny

A. P.

Jr Wachs

T. D.

Ludwig

J. L.

Phillips

(1995). Bringing order out of chaos: Psychometric characteristics of the confusion, hubbub, and order scale. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology, 16(3), 429–444. https://doi.org/10.1016/0193-3973(95)90028-4

30.

McNulty

J. K.

(2016). Highlighting the contextual nature of interpersonal relationships. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 54, 247–315. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/bs.aesp.2016.02.003

31.

Mikulincer

Shaver

P. R.

(2003). The attachment behavioral system in adulthood: Activation, psychodynamics, and interpersonal processes. Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 35, 53–152. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(03)01002-5

32.

Mikulincer

Shaver

P. R.

(2007). Attachment in adulthood: Structure, dynamics, and change (2007-12400-000). Guilford Press.

33.

Moos

(1981). Family environment scale manual: Development, applications, research (3rd ed.). Consulting Psychologists Press.

34.

Neff

L. A.

Broady

E. F.

(2011). Stress resilience in early marriage: Can practice make perfect? Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(5), 1050–1067. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023809

35.

Neff

L. A.

Karney

B. R.

(2004). How does context affect intimate relationships? Linking external stress and cognitive processes within marriage. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 30(2), 134–148. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167203255984

36.

Neff

L. A.

Karney

B. R.

(2009). Stress and reactivity to daily relationship experiences: How stress hinders adaptive processes in marriage. Journal of Personality & Social Psychology, 97(3), 435–450. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0015663

37.

Neff

L. A.

Karney

B. R.

(2017). Acknowledging the elephant in the room: How stressful environmental contexts shape relationship dynamics. Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 107–110. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.05.013

38.

Nguyen

T. P.

Karney

B. R.

Bradbury

T. N.

(2020). When poor communication does and does not matter: The moderating role of stress. Journal of Family Psychology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000643

39.

Overall

N. C.

Fletcher

G. J. O.

Simpson

J. A.

Fillo

(2015). Attachment insecurity, biased perceptions of romantic partners’ negative emotions, and hostile relationship behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 108(5), 730–749. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0038987

40.

Overall

N. C.

Girme

Y. U.

Lemay

E. P.

Hammond

M. D.

(2014). Attachment anxiety and reactions to relationship threat: The benefits and costs of inducing guilt in romantic partners. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 106(2), 235–256. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0034371

41.

Overall

N. C.

Simpson

J. A.

, (2015). Attachment and dyadic regulation processes. Current Opinions in Psychology, 1, 61–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2014.11.008

42.

Overall

N. C.

Simpson

J. A.

Struthers

(2013). Buffering attachment avoidance: Softening emotional and behavioral defenses during conflict discussions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 104(5), 854–871. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031798

43.

Pietromonaco

P. R.

Barrett

L. F.

(1997). Working models of attachment and daily social interactions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73(6), 1409–1423. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.73.6.1409

44.

Pietromonaco

P. R.

Collins

N. L.

(2017). Interpersonal mechanisms linking close relationships to health. American Psychologist, 72(6), 531–542. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000129

45.

Pietromonaco

P. R.

Overall

N. C.

(2020). Applying relationship science to evaluate how the COVID-19 pandemic may impact couples’ relationships. American Psychologist. http://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000714

46.

Prime

Wade

Browne

D. T.

(2020). Risk and resilience in family well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. American Psychologist, 75(5), 631–643. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000660

47.

Randall

A. K.

Bodenmann

(2009). The role of stress on close relationships and marital satisfaction. Clinical Psychology Review, 29, 105–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2008.10.004

48.

Repetti

Wang

Saxbe

(2009). Bringing it all back home: How outside stressors shape families’ everyday lives. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 18(2), 106–111.

49.

Rosenthal

Rosnow

R. L.

(2007). Essentials of Behavioral Research: Methods and Data Analysis (3rd ed.). New York, NY: McGraw-Hill.

50.

Ross

J. M.

Karney

B. R.

Nguyen

T. P.

Bradbury

T. N.

(2019). Communication that is maladaptive for middle-class couples is adaptive for socioeconomically disadvantaged couples. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 116(4), 582–597. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspi0000158

51.

Rusbult

C. E.

Martz

J. M.

Agnew

C. R.

(1998). The Investment Model Scale: Measuring commitment level, satisfaction level, quality of alternatives, and investment size. Personal Relationships, 5, 357–391.

52.

Schmid

Wörn

Hank

Sawatzki

Walper

(2020). Changes in employment and relationship satisfaction in times of the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from the German family panel. European Societies, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1080/14616696.2020.1836385

53.

Sibley

C. G.

Greaves

L. M.

Satherley

Wilson

M. S.

Overall

N. C.

Lee

C. H. J.

Milojev

Bulbulia

Osborne

Milfont

T. L.

Houkamau

C. A.

Duck

I. M.

Vickers-Jones

Barlow

F. K.

(2020). Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and nationwide lockdown on trust, attitudes towards government, and wellbeing. American Psychologist, 75(5), 618–630. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000662

54.

Simpson

J. A.

Rholes

W. S.

(2012). Adult attachment orientations, stress, and romantic relationships. In Devine

Plante

(Eds.), Advances in experimental social psychology (Vol. 45., pp. 279–328). Elsevier.

55.

Simpson

J. A.

Rholes

W. S.

(2017). Adult attachment, stress, and romantic relationships. Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 19–24.

56.

Simpson

J. A.

Rholes

W. S.

Oriña

M. M.

Grich

(2002). Working models of attachment, support giving, and support seeking in a stressful situation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 28(5), 598–608. https://doi-org.ezproxy.auckland.ac.nz/10.1177/0146167202288004

57.

Simpson

J. A.

Rholes

W. S.

Phillips

(1996). Conflict in close relationships: An attachment perspective. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 71(5), 899–914. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.71.5.899

58.

Simpson

J. A.

Rholes

W. S.

William

Nelligan

J. S.

(1992). Support seeking and support giving within couples in an anxiety-provoking situation: The role of attachment styles. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 62(3), 434–446.

59.

Simpson

J. A.

Winterheld

H. A.

Rholes

W. S.

Oriña

M. M.

(2007). Working models of attachment and reactions to different forms of caregiving from romantic partners. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 93(3), 466–477. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.93.3.466

60.

Stanley

S. M.

Markman

H. J.

(2020). Helping couples in the shadow of COVID-19. Family Process. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/famp.12575

61.

Story

L. B.

Repetti

(2006). Daily occupational stressors and marital behavior. Journal of Family Psychology, 20(4), 690–700. https://doi.org/10.1037/0893-3200.20.4.690

62.

Tan

Overall

N. C.

Taylor

J. K.

(2012). Let’s talk about us: Attachment, relationship-focused disclosure, and relationship quality. Personal Relationships, 19, 521–534. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2011.01383.x

63.

Williamson

H. C.

(2020). Early effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on relationship satisfaction and attributions. Psychological Science, 31(12), 1479–1487. https://doi/10.1177/0956797620972688

64.

Williamson

H. C.

Karney

B. R.

Bradbury

T. N.

(2013). Financial strain and stressful events predict newlyweds’ negative communication independent of relationship satisfaction. Journal of Family Psychology, 27(1), 65–75. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031104

65.

Zacher

Rudolph

C. W.

(2020). Individual differences and changes in subjective wellbeing during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic. American Psychologist. Advance online publication. http://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000702

Supplementary Material

Please find the following supplemental material available below.

For Open Access articles published under a Creative Commons License, all supplemental material carries the same license as the article it is associated with.

For non-Open Access articles published, all supplemental material carries a non-exclusive license, and permission requests for re-use of supplemental material or any part of supplemental material shall be sent directly to the copyright owner as specified in the copyright notice associated with the article.

0.00 MB

0.37 MB

Partners’ Attachment Insecurity and Stress Predict Poorer Relationship Functioning During COVID-19 Quarantines

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References

Supplementary Material