Abstract
Attachment theory proposes that experiences of acceptance and rejection will modify feelings of attachment security, but such processes have rarely been investigated. In this study, daily variations in attachment anxiety and avoidance were investigated across 7 days in a sample of college undergraduates currently in romantic relationships. We observed significant within-person variation in attachment avoidance and anxiety. Participants reported lower anxiety and avoidance on days on which they felt more accepted by their romantic partners. Further, perceptions of acceptance predicted the following day's attachment security through lower negative mood. Greater variability in attachment avoidance and anxiety was associated with greater physical aggression in relationships.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 218-224 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Journal of Research in Personality |
| Volume | 69 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2017 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:This study was partially supported by a grant awarded to the third author from the John Templeton Foundation.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2016 Elsevier Inc.
Keywords
- Attachment
- Density distribution
- Relationship functioning
- Within-person variability
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Social Psychology
- Psychology (all)