Attachment Styles and Mate-Retention: Exploring the Mediating Role of Relationship Satisfaction

Bruna S. Nascimento; Anthony C. Little; Renan P. Monteiro; Paul H.P. Hanel; Katia C. Vione

doi:10.1037/ebs0000272

Attachment Styles and Mate-Retention: Exploring the Mediating Role of Relationship Satisfaction

Bruna S. Nascimento, Anthony C. Little, Renan P. Monteiro, Paul H.P. Hanel, Katia C. Vione

Department of Psychology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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; M_age = 23.22, SD_age = 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
Journal	Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences
Volume	16
Issue number	4
Early online date	2 Sep 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1037/ebs0000272
Publication status	Published - 31 Oct 2022

Keywords

Attachment styles
Mate retention
Relationship satisfaction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Social Psychology
Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

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10.1037/ebs0000272

Cite this

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title = "Attachment Styles and Mate-Retention: Exploring the Mediating Role of Relationship Satisfaction",

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.",

keywords = "Attachment styles, Mate retention, Relationship satisfaction",

author = "Nascimento, {Bruna S.} and Little, {Anthony C.} and Monteiro, {Renan P.} and Hanel, {Paul H.P.} and Vione, {Katia C.}",

note = "Funding Information: This study was funded by the Capes Foundation, Ministry of Education ? Brazil (99999.001967/2015-00). 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). 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 nascimento.brunads@gmail.com ",

year = "2022",

month = oct,

day = "31",

doi = "10.1037/ebs0000272",

language = "English",

volume = "16",

pages = "362–370",

journal = "Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences",

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publisher = "American Psychological Association",

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T1 - Attachment Styles and Mate-Retention

T2 - Exploring the Mediating Role of Relationship Satisfaction

AU - Nascimento, Bruna S.

AU - Little, Anthony C.

AU - Monteiro, Renan P.

AU - Hanel, Paul H.P.

AU - Vione, Katia C.

N1 - Funding Information: This study was funded by the Capes Foundation, Ministry of Education ? Brazil (99999.001967/2015-00). 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). 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 nascimento.brunads@gmail.com

PY - 2022/10/31

Y1 - 2022/10/31

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - Attachment styles

KW - Mate retention

KW - Relationship satisfaction

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ER -

Attachment Styles and Mate-Retention: Exploring the Mediating Role of Relationship Satisfaction

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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