KUKU

KU ScholarWorks

  • myKU
  • Email
  • Enroll & Pay
  • KU Directory
    • Login
    View Item 
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Dissertations
    • View Item
    •   KU ScholarWorks
    • Dissertations and Theses
    • Dissertations
    • View Item
    JavaScript is disabled for your browser. Some features of this site may not work without it.

    Predicting Relationship Satisfaction in Romantic and Non-Romantic Dyads: The Impact of Attachment Style and Partner Behaviors

    Thumbnail
    View/Open
    Keil_ku_0099D_13594_DATA_1.pdf (919.3Kb)
    Issue Date
    2015-12-31
    Author
    Keil, Katie M.
    Publisher
    University of Kansas
    Format
    107 pages
    Type
    Dissertation
    Degree Level
    Ph.D.
    Discipline
    Psychology
    Rights
    Copyright held by the author.
    Metadata
    Show full item record
    Abstract
    The social support literature has a primary focus on the impact of objective partner behaviors on both relationship quality and the well-being of each partner. In contrast, the adult attachment literature stresses the relational impact of key intrapsychic processes. Very little research attention, however, has been accorded to the interrelationships that may exist between attachment style and social support. The present study, therefore, examines the relative contributions of attachment style and partner behaviors on reported relationship satisfaction, as well as the manner in which these contributions may differ across different relationship types - romantic dyads, friendships, and familial relationships. Participants were recruited from the popular crowd-sourcing website, Amazon Mechanical Turk, and structural equation modeling was employed to analyze hypothesized causal and mediational pathways. Attachment style and partner behaviors were each significantly associated with relationship satisfaction, with partner behaviors appearing to partially mediate the relationship between attachment style and relationship satisfaction. In general, avoidant attachment was more strongly associated with adverse partner behaviors - and with reduced relationship satisfaction - than was anxious attachment. However, the pattern of such effects varied somewhat across relationship type, with avoidant attachment being strongly predictive of negative partner behaviors only within the context of romantic relationships. Moreover, only relationship satisfaction with a romantic partner (as opposed to friend or family member) was predictive of life satisfaction. These findings are generally consistent with previous research indicating that attachment style and partner supportive behaviors each impact relationship satisfaction, yet they suggest a differential importance of attachment style and partner behaviors across different types of relationships.
    URI
    http://hdl.handle.net/1808/21695
    Collections
    • Psychology Dissertations and Theses [466]
    • Dissertations [4472]

    Items in KU ScholarWorks are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.


    We want to hear from you! Please share your stories about how Open Access to this item benefits YOU.


    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    Browse

    All of KU ScholarWorksCommunities & CollectionsThis Collection

    My Account

    LoginRegister

    Statistics

    View Usage Statistics

    Contact KU ScholarWorks
    785-864-8983
    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    785-864-8983

    KU Libraries
    1425 Jayhawk Blvd
    Lawrence, KS 66045
    Image Credits
     

     

    The University of Kansas
      Contact KU ScholarWorks
    Lawrence, KS | Maps
     
    • Academics
    • Admission
    • Alumni
    • Athletics
    • Campuses
    • Giving
    • Jobs

    The University of Kansas prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, national origin, age, ancestry, disability, status as a veteran, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, gender identity, gender expression and genetic information in the University’s programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the non-discrimination policies: Director of the Office of Institutional Opportunity and Access, IOA@ku.edu, 1246 W. Campus Road, Room 153A, Lawrence, KS, 66045, (785)864-6414, 711 TTY.

     Contact KU
    Lawrence, KS | Maps