Abstract
This study investigated whether relationship satisfaction mediates the association between attachment styles and mate-retention strategies. Four-hundred and twenty individuals in a heterosexual committed relationship participated in this study (79.7% women; Mage = 23.22, SDage = 8.07). Participants completed questionnaires assessing attachment styles, relationship satisfaction, and mate-retention strategies. The results replicated previous findings by showing that insecure attachment is positively associated with benefitprovisioning and cost-inflicting mate-retention strategies and extended previous research by showing that relationship satisfaction mediates these associations. The present findings confirm evolutionary predictions on romantic relationships that relationship satisfaction may serve as a monitor determining how individuals act to preserve their relationships.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 362–370 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 4 |
| Early online date | 2 Sept 2021 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 31 Oct 2022 |
Data Availability Statement
The data and materials used in the research are available upon request. The data and materials can be obtained by emailing Bruna S. Nascimento at [email protected]Acknowledgements
All procedures performed in this study were in accordance with the ethical standards of the psychology ethics committee of the University of Bath (ethical approval code: 17-218).Funding
This study was funded by the Capes Foundation, Ministry of Education – Brazil (99999.001967/2015-00).
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior | |
| Ministry of Education | 99999.001967/2015-00 |
Keywords
- Attachment styles
- Mate retention
- Relationship satisfaction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Experimental and Cognitive Psychology