Adult Attachment and Marital Satisfaction: Evidence for Dyadic Configuration Effects

The relations between continuous ratings of four partnershipspecific adult attachment prototype descriptions (Bartholomew & Horowitz, 1991) and relationship satisfaction were investigated in 333 married couples. Using multiple regression analysis, marital satisfaction could be predicted by the individual’s own attachment, the partner’s attachment, and the interaction between them. In general, secure attachment was related to higher, and insecure attachment to lower marital satisfaction. In specific dyadic configurations, however, the positive effects of secure and the negative effects of insecure attachment styles were either amplified or attenuated depending on the attachment of the spouse.