The Self and the Other: An Attachment Perspective for Uncovering Dyadic Patterns of Intrapersonal and Interpersonal Distress

Abstract

Psychosocial research is increasingly focused on attachment, specifically on the potential mechanisms associating attachment with psychological functioning (Cassidy & Shaver, 2016). In past decades, attachment research has sought to better understand the development of individual psychological distress as well as relationship distress, given its major impacts on the overall well-being of individuals. It is worth noting that researchers have identified specific intrapersonal and interpersonal factors that are important variables to consider in the link between attachment and both individual distress and relationship dissatisfaction (Ensel & Lin, 1991; Hobfoll, 2002). However, little attention has been paid to investigating these mechanisms using a dyadic approach in order to gain a better understanding of reciprocal impacts within couple relationships. Since dyadic research methods have not been commonly utilized for understanding distress within an attachment framework, this has limited our understanding of the effect partners have on one another. Consequentially, the importance of dyadic effects has possibly been minimized in research. The present thesis, composed of two main studies, aims to verify if self-esteem and dyadic trust help explain the link between insecure romantic attachment (attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) and individual and relationship distress using actor-partner interdependence mediation model analyses. The studies presented in the present thesis were approved by the University of Ottawa’s Research Ethics Board. The first study was comprised of two separate studies, both of which aimed to assess a conceptual model examining whether low self-esteem mediates the relationship between insecure romantic attachment and high psychological distress using two independent samples within unique periods in adulthood: a young adult student sample and a sample of couples in later adulthood who are parents. The first sample consisted of 485 Canadian university students (414 females; M age= 19.83 years) who were all in a couple relationship for at least 6 months at the time of participation. Bootstrapping procedures were utilized to assess indirect effects, and results supported our hypothesized model. As such, low self-esteem mediated the relationship between insecure romantic attachment and high psychological distress for both men and women. The second sample consisted of 35 couples in later adulthood who are parents (70 individuals, M age = 41.04 years). An actor-partner interdependence meditational model was tested to assess actor, partner, and indirect effects. Results showed that low male self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between male attachment anxiety and high male psychological distress. Similarly, low female self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between female attachment anxiety and high female psychological distress. Interestingly, high female self-esteem partially mediated the relationship between female attachment avoidance and low female psychological distress. Unexpectedly, low self-esteem in women fully mediated the relationship between female attachment anxiety and low male psychological distress. In the same vein, high self-esteem in women partially mediated the relationship between female attachment avoidance and high male psychological distress. The second study investigated whether low dyadic trust mediates the relationship between insecure romantic attachment and low relationship satisfaction in a third independent community sample of heterosexual couples engaged in a relationship for at least 12 months. The sample consisted of 199 Canadian couples ranging from young to later adulthood (398 individuals, M age = 31.02 years). An actor-partner meditational model was used to test hypothesized relations. Results revealed that lower dyadic trust partially explained the relationship between both male and female attachment avoidance and male attachment anxiety with lower relationship satisfaction. Findings from these studies have major implications for both clinical applications as well as future research directions. Specifically, gaining a better understanding of the role of romantic partners in the overall well-being of individuals can confirm as well as guide couple therapy conceptualizations and techniques. Uncovering existing dyadic patterns can also help support romantic relationship theories and shape future research avenues.