Conventional wisdom suggests that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. Echoing this sentiment, theoretical perspectives on close relationships suggest that the synergistic combination of both partners’ personal qualities can influence relationship outcomes above and beyond the simple additive influence of each partner’s qualities. Yet, empirical research leaves it unclear whether the interactive effects of own and partner attachment insecurity, one of the most notable individual difference predictors of relationship outcomes, predicts relationship dissolution, one of the most notable relationship outcomes. We combined data from five independent longitudinal studies of 539 newlywed couples to address this issue. Three of the four interactive combinations (all except own attachment avoidance × partner attachment avoidance) predicted marital dissolution serially through (a) initial marital satisfaction and (b) changes in satisfaction. Findings provide evidence of interactive attachment effects and underscore the importance of both couple members’ characteristics for maintaining satisfying romantic relationships.
AltgeltE. E.MeltzerA. L. (2019). Mate-retention behaviors mediate the association between spouses’ attachment insecurity and subsequent partner satisfaction. Personality and Individual Differences, 151, Article 109534. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.109534
2.
AmatoP. R.JamesS. (2010). Divorce in Europe and the United States: Commonalities and differences across nations. Family Science, 1(1), 2–13. https://doi.org/10.1080/19424620903381583
3.
AttridgeM.BerscheidE.SimpsonJ. A. (1995). Predicting relationship stability from both partners versus one. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 69(2), 254–268. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.69.2.254
4.
Ben-AriA.LaveeY. (2005). Dyadic characteristics of individual attributes: Attachment, neuroticism, and their relation to marital quality and closeness. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 75(4), 621–631. https://doi.org/10.1037/0002-9432.75.4.621
5.
BowlbyJ. (1973). Attachment and loss: Vol. 2. Separation. Basic Books.
6.
BrassardA.LussierY.ShaverP. R. (2009). Attachment, perceived conflict, and couple satisfaction: Test of a mediational dyadic model. Family Relations, 58(5), 634–646. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2009.00580.x
7.
CandelO. S.TurliucM. N. (2019). Insecure attachment and relationship satisfaction: A meta-analysis of actor and partner associations. Personality and Individual Differences, 147, 190–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2019.04.037
8.
EastwickP. W.JoelS.CarswellK. L.MoldenD. C.FinkelE. J.BlozisS. A. (2023). Predicting romantic interest during early relationship development: A preregistered investigation using machine learning. European Journal of Personality, 37(3), 276–312. https://doi.org/10.1177/08902070221085877
9.
FeeneyJ. A. (1994). Attachment style, communication patterns, and satisfaction across the life cycle of marriage. Personal Relationships, 1(4), 333–348. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.1994.tb00069.x
10.
FeeneyJ. A.KarantzasG. C. (2017). Couple conflict: Insights from an attachment perspective. Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 60–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.04.017
FraleyR. C.ShaverP. R. (2000). Adult romantic attachment: Theoretical developments, emerging controversies, and unanswered questions. Review of General Psychology, 4(2), 132–154. https://doi.org/10.1037/1089-2680.4.2.132
13.
FraleyR. C.VicaryA. M.BrumbaughC. C.RoismanG. I. (2011). Patterns of stability in adult attachment: An empirical test of two models of continuity and change. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 101(5), 974–992. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024150
14.
FraleyR. C.WallerN. G.BrennanK. A. (2000). An item response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 78(2), 350–365. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.78.2.350
15.
GoldbergL. R. (1999). A broad-bandwidth, public-domain, personality inventory measuring the lower-level facets of several five-factor models. In MervieldeI.DearyI.DeFruytF.OstendorfF. (Eds.), Personality psychology in Europe (Vol. 7, pp. 7–28). Tilburg University Press.
16.
GoldringM. R.BolgerN. (2022). Mood and judgment in a dyadic stress context. Emotion, 22(7), 1401–1416. https://doi.org/10.1037/emo0000938
17.
GriffinD.GonzalezR. (1995). Correlational analysis of dyad-level data in the exchangeable case. Psychological Bulletin, 118(3), 430–439.
18.
HazanC.ShaverP. R. (1994). Attachment as an organizational framework for research on close relationships. Psychological Inquiry, 5(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1207/s15327965pli0501_1
19.
HudsonN. W.FraleyR. C. (2014). Partner similarity matters for the insecure: Attachment orientations moderate the association between similarity in partners’ personality traits and relationship satisfaction. Journal of Research in Personality, 53, 112–123. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2014.09.004
20.
JoelS.EastwickP. W.AllisonC. J.ArriagaX. B.BakerZ. G.Bar-KalifaE.BergeronS.BirnbaumG. E.BrockR. L.BrumbaughC. C.CarmichaelC. L.ChenS.ClarkeJ.CobbR. J.CoolsenM. K.DavisJ.de JongD. C.DebrotA.DeHaasE. C.. . .WolfS. (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 of the United States of America, 117(32), 19061–19071. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1917036117
21.
JonesJ. T.CunninghamJ. D. (1996). Attachment styles and other predictors of relationship satisfaction in dating couples. Personal Relationships, 3(4), 387–399. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.1996.tb00123.x
22.
KarneyB. R.BradburyT. 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
23.
KarneyB. R.BradburyT. N. (1997). Neuroticism, marital interaction, and the trajectory of marital satisfaction. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 72(5), 1075–1092. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.72.5.1075
24.
KazakA. E. (2018). Editorial: Journal article reporting standards. American Psychologist, 73(1), 1–2. https://doi.org/10.1037/amp0000263
25.
KelleyH. H.ThibautJ. W. (1978). Interpersonal relations: A theory of interdependence. Wiley.
26.
KirkpatrickL. A.DavisK. E. (1994). Attachment style, gender, and relationship stability: A longitudinal analysis. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 66(3), 502–512. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.66.3.502
27.
KlohnenE. C.LuoS. (2003). Interpersonal attraction and personality: What is attractive–self similarity, ideal similarity, complementarity or attachment security?Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(4), 709–722. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.85.4.709
28.
KreiderR. M.EllisR. (2011). Number, timing, and duration of marriages and divorces: 2009 (Current population reports P70–125). US Census Bureau.
29.
LavnerJ. A.BradburyT. N.KarneyB. R. (2012). Incremental change or initial differences? Testing two models of marital deterioration. Journal of Family Psychology, 26(4), 606–616.
30.
LohW. W.RenD. (2023). Adjusting for baseline measurements of the mediators and outcome as a first step toward eliminating confounding biases in mediation analysis. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 18(5), 1254–1266.
31.
LozanoE. B.SzeW. Y.FraleyR. C.ChongJ. Y. (2021). Dyadic effects of attachment and relationship functioning. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 38(5), 1572–1595. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407521999443
32.
McNultyJ. K.DugasA. (2019). A dyadic perspective on gratitude sheds light on both its benefits and its costs: Evidence that low gratitude acts as a “weak link.”Journal of Family Psychology, 33(7), 876–881. https://doi.org/10.1037/fam0000533
33.
McNultyJ. K.FinchamF. D. (2012). Beyond positive psychology? Toward a contextual view of psychological processes and well-being. American Psychologist, 67(2), 101–110. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0024572
34.
McNultyJ. K.MeltzerA. L.NeffL. A.KarneyB. R. (2021). How both partners’ individual differences, stress, and behavior predict change in relationship satisfaction: Extending the VSA model. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 118(27), Article e2101402118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2101402118
35.
MikulincerM.ShaverP. R. (2003). The attachment behavioral system in adulthood: Activation, psychodynamics, and interpersonal processes. In ZannaM. P. (Ed.), Advances in experimental social psychology Vol. 35 (pp. 53–152). Elsevier Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0065-2601(03)01002-5
36.
MurrayS. L.HolmesJ. G.CollinsN. L. (2006). Optimizing assurance: The risk regulation system in relationships. Psychological Bulletin, 132(5), 641–666. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.132.5.641
37.
NortonR. (1983). Measuring marital quality: A critical look at the dependent variable. Journal of Marriage and Family, 45(1), 141–151. https://doi.org/10.2307/351302
38.
OsgoodC. E.SuciG.TannenbaumP. (1957). The measurement of meaning. University of Illinois Press.
39.
PetersS. D.MeltzerA. L. (2021). Newlywed couples’ own and partner sexual disgust sensitivities interact to predict their marital satisfaction through their sexual satisfaction. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 50(6), 2563–2577. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10508-020-01872-y
40.
PietromonacoP. R.BeckL. A. (2015). Attachment processes in adult romantic relationships. In MikulincerM.ShaverP. R.SimpsonJ. A.DovidioJ. F. (Eds.), APA handbook of personality and social psychology, Vol. 3. Interpersonal relations (pp. 33–64). American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/14344-002
41.
ProulxC. M.HelmsH. M.BuehlerC. (2007). Marital quality and personal well-being: A meta-analysis. Journal of Marriage and Family, 69(3), 576–593. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3737.2007.00393.x
42.
RoblesT. F.SlatcherR. B.TrombelloJ. M.McGinnM. M. (2014). Marital quality and health: A meta-analytic review. Psychological Bulletin, 140, 140–187. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0031859
43.
RussellV. M.BakerL. R.McNultyJ. K. (2013). Attachment insecurity and infidelity in marriage: Do studies of dating relationships really inform us about marriage?Journal of Family Psychology, 27(2), 242–251. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0032118
44.
SchmittD. P. (2002). Personality, attachment and sexuality related to dating relationship outcomes: Contrasting three perspectives on personal attribute interaction. British Journal of Social Psychology, 41(4), 589–610. https://doi.org/10.1348/014466602321149894
45.
SenchakM.LeonardK. E. (1992). Attachment styles and marital adjustment among newlywed couples. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 9(1), 51–64. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407592091003
46.
ShallcrossS.HowlandM.BemisJ.SimpsonJ. A.FrazierP. (2011). Not “capitalizing” on social capitalization interactions: The role of attachment insecurity. Journal of Family Psychology, 25(1), 77–85. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0021876
47.
ShaverP. R.BrennanK. A. (1992). Attachment styles and the “Big Five” personality traits: Their connections with each other and with romantic relationship outcomes. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 18(5), 536–545. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167292185003
48.
SimpsonJ. A. (1990). The influence of attachment styles on romantic relationships. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 59, 971–980.
SimpsonJ. A.OverallN. C. (2014). Partner buffering of attachment insecurity. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 23(1), 54–59. https://doi.org/10.1177/0963721413510933
51.
van de SchootR.WinterS. D.RyanO.Zondervan-ZwijnenburgM.DepaoliS. (2017). A systematic review of Bayesian articles in psychology: The last 25 years. Psychological Methods, 22(2), 217–239. https://doi.org/10.1037/met0000100
52.
van ScheppingenM. A.ChopikW. J.BleidornW.DenissenJ. J. A. (2019). Longitudinal actor, partner, and similarity effects of personality on well-being. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 117(4), e51–e70. https://doi.org/10.1037/pspp0000211
53.
VollingB. L.NotaroP. C.LarsenJ. J. (1998). Adult attachment styles: Relations with emotional well-being, marriage, and parenting. Family Relations: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Applied Family Studies, 47(4), 355–367. https://doi.org/10.2307/585266
54.
ZayasV.ShodaY.AydukO. N. (2002). Personality in context: An interpersonal systems perspective. Journal of Personality, 70(6), 851–900. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6494.05026
55.
ZuoP. Y.KarremansJ. C.ScheresA.KluwerE. S.BurkW. J.KappenG.Ter KuileH. (2020). A dyadic test of the association between trait self-control and romantic relationship satisfaction. Frontiers in Psychology, 11, Article 594476. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.594476
56.
ZyphurM. J.OswaldF. L. (2015). Bayesian estimation and inference: A user’s guide. Journal of Management, 41(2), 390–420. https://doi.org/10.1177/0149206313501200
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.
