1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The present study assessed the dyadic associations among attachment insecurities and disengagement in relationally distressed couples seeking relationship therapy, while also considering partners’ levels of depression, relationship satisfaction, and commitment.» (p. 402)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«With respect to attachment insecurities, individuals with greater attachment-related avoidance were expected to report greater disengagement (actor effect). [Authors] also hypothesized that individuals whose partner scores high on avoidance or anxiety would report greater romantic disengagement (partner effects). [Moreover, they] expected that higher depression, lower relationship satisfaction, and lower commitment would be associated with higher disengagement.» (p. 402-403)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«This study was part of a larger investigation examining factors associated with successful couple therapy. The sample consisted of 171 mixed-sex (male/female) couples seeking relationship therapy in a private practice located near Montreal, Québec between 2015 and 2017. Most participants were French speaking (93% of men and 89% of women) and Caucasian (96% of men and 95% of women). Participants’ mean age was 42 years […] for women and 45 years […] for men. Couples reported an average relationship duration of 13 years [and] reported experiencing relationship difficulties for a median of 2 years […].» (p. 403)

Instruments :
Questionnaires

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

«Overall, [the] results demonstrate that attachment insecurities are associated with disengagement from both an individual and couple perspective, beyond the effect of more contextual personal and relationship factors. However, although attachment insecurities are associated with higher levels of romantic disengagement, other intrapersonal (depression symptoms) and relational variables […] also appear to be important in understanding romantic disengagement and should be considered when treating disengagement in therapy. […] Results suggest that attachment-related avoidance plays a role in romantic disengagement among couples seeking relationship therapy. Consistent with [the] hypothesis, [the] findings suggest that men and women with greater attachment-related avoidance appear to have greater romantic disengagement, even when analyses account for their levels of depression, relationship satisfaction, and commitment. […] Attachment-related anxiety was not associated with an individual’s own romantic disengagement. This lack of association may reflect these individuals’ ambivalent stance toward their relationship, whereby they fluctuate between proximity-seeking behaviors to have their needs met and distancing strategies used to protect themselves from rejection […].» (p. 406) Moreover, «[p]artially supporting [the] hypothesis, [the] results showed that only attachment-related anxiety, not avoidance, was associated with greater partner disengagement and this, while accounting for the partner’s depressive symptoms, relationship satisfaction, and commitment. Specifically, greater anxiety in men was associated with greater disengagement in their female partner.» (p. 407)