Spouses' Attachment Pairings Predict Neuroendocrine, Behavioral, and Psychological Responses to Marital Conflict

Overview

Journal J Pers Soc Psychol

Publisher American Psychological Association

Specialty Psychology

Date 2013 Jun 19

PMID 23773048

Citations 25

Authors

Lindsey A Beck

Paula R Pietromonaco

Casey J DeBuse

Sally I Powers

Aline G Sayer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

This research investigated how spouses' attachment styles jointly contributed to their stress responses. Newlywed couples discussed relationship conflicts. Salivary cortisol indexed physiological stress; observer-rated behaviors indexed behavioral stress; self-reported distress indexed psychological stress. Multilevel modeling tested predictions that couples including 1 anxious and 1 avoidant partner or 2 anxious partners would show distinctive stress responses. As predicted, couples with anxious wives and avoidant husbands showed physiological reactivity in anticipation of conflict: Both spouses showed sharp increases in cortisol, followed by rapid declines. These couples also showed distinctive behaviors during conflict: Anxious wives had difficulty recognizing avoidant husbands' distress, and avoidant husbands had difficulty approaching anxious wives for support. Contrary to predictions, couples including 2 anxious partners did not show distinctive stress responses. Findings suggest that the fit between partners' attachment styles can improve understanding of relationships by specifying conditions under which partners' attachment characteristics jointly influence individual and relationship outcomes.

Citing Articles

Is Our Attachment Hurting Us? Unraveling the Associations Between Partners' Attachment Pairings, Negative Emotions During Conflict, and Intimate Partner Violence.

Pudelko A, Ramos B, Emond M, Peloquin K, Daspe M J Marital Fam Ther. 2025; 51(2):e70009.

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Child Sex Composition, Parental Sex Preferences, and Marital Outcomes: Evidence From a Matrilineal Context.

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Genetic Contributions to Attachment Stability Over Time: the Roles of CRHR1 Polymorphisms.

Zhao W, Lan Q, Zhou M, Liang W, Yang Y, Gong P J Youth Adolesc. 2023; 53(2):273-283.

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