Observed Attachment and Self-Report Affect Within Romantic Relationships |
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Authors: | Erin M. Sesemann Jenna Kruse Brandt C. Gardner Clint L. Broadbent Todd A. Spencer |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Health and Human Performance, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA;2. Human Development and Family Science, Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA;3. Crider Health Center, Wentzville, Missouri, USA;4. Human Development and Family Science, Oklahoma State University–Stillwater, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA |
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Abstract: | Adult attachment provides unique insights that help researchers and clinicians understand the complexities of individuals and relationships. In romantic relationships, individual attachment can explain partners' abilities for closeness and autonomy as well as how they experience affect within the relationship. These affective experiences during couple interactions have been shown to influence both proximal and distal relationship outcomes. Thus, the authors explore the impact of partners' observed attachment behaviors—coded using the AABQ—on continuous reports of their affective experiences during both difficult and positive marital conversations. Variables examining couple affective negativity and flexibility were developed using state space grids, and data were analyzed using GridWare. Results showed that observed female attachment behaviors significantly impacted a couple's affective experiences of negativity and flexibility during conversations, while there were no significant associations between male observed attachment behaviors and the couple affective experience. Clinical implications and suggestions for future research are discussed. |
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Keywords: | Attachment assessment of couple relationships couple therapy and techniques gender issues in couple therapy couple affect |
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