A closer look at attachment, sexuality, and couple relationships

Keywords

attachment, couple relationships, relationship satisfaction, relationship status, sexual debut, sexuality, sexual satisfaction, sexual timing

Abstract

In this study, the relationships between attachment patterns and relationship outcomes were explored through the mechanism of sexuality with two large samples from the U.S. In the first sample (N = 4,834), the associations between insecure attachment patterns, the number of committed and casual sexual partners, timing of sexual debut, and relationship status were explored. In the second sample, a nationally representative sample of recently married couples (N = 4212), an actor–partner model was used to explore the associations with attachment on the number of sexual partners and sexual timing and their subsequent influence on relationship and sexual satisfaction over two time points. The results indicated that, for Sample 1, insecure attachment was associated with both the number of casual and committed sexual partners and an increased likelihood of being single for men and women. For Sample 2, the actor–partner measures of attachment were associated with relationship and sexual satisfaction over two time points but had weak associations with the number of sexual partners and sexual timing.

Original Publication Citation

Busby, D. M., Hanna-Walker, V., Yorgason, J. B. (2020). A closer look at attachment, sexuality, and couple relationships. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 37, 1362-1385.

Document Type

Peer-Reviewed Article

Publication Date

2020-01-08

Permanent URL

http://hdl.lib.byu.edu/1877/7447

Publisher

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

Language

English

College

Family, Home, and Social Sciences

Department

Family Life

University Standing at Time of Publication

Full Professor

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