1. Objectifs

Intentions :
«The aim of this study was to examine whether attachment insecurities predict changes in relationship commitment and whether relationship commitment predicts changes in attachment insecurities in both partners during the TTP [transition to parenthood].» (p. 1503)

Questions/Hypothèses :
«Four hypotheses were formulated. First, it was expected that attachment insecurities (anxiety and avoidance) would be linked with a decrease in optimal commitment and an increase in over- and under-commitment over the TTP. More precisely, mothers and fathers with a higher level of attachment anxiety were expected to experience a decrease in their optimal commitment (H1) and an increase in their over-commitment and under-commitment (H2). Similarly, mothers and fathers with a higher level of attachment avoidance were expected to experience a decrease in their optimal commitment (H3) and an increase in their under-commitment (H4).» (p. 1503)

2. Méthode

Échantillon/Matériau :
«The sample was drawn from an ongoing larger prospective study on the TTP and consisted of 93 French-Canadian mixed-sex couples expecting their first child. To participate in the study, the couples had to be in their second trimester of pregnancy and carrying their first child […].» (p. 1503-1504) Couples participated in the study during the pregnancy (T1) and four months after birth (T2).

Instruments :
Questionnaire

Type de traitement des données :
Analyse statistique

3. Résumé

The «findings support both types of prospective associations. On the one hand, attachment avoidance during pregnancy predicted a decrease in optimal commitment and an increase in under-commitment for both partners (actor effects), whereas only men’s attachment anxiety predicted a decrease in women’s under-commitment after birth (partner effect). On the other hand, high optimal commitment during pregnancy predicted a decrease in attachment avoidance at T2, whereas high under-commitment during pregnancy predicted an increase in attachment avoidance at T2 for both partners (actor effects). [The] results revealed that prenatal attachment-related avoidance predicted a decrease in optimal commitment (H3) and an increase in under-commitment (H4) at 4 months postpartum for both mothers and fathers. These results are consistent with many cross-sectional studies demonstrating that attachment avoidance is widely associated with lower relationship commitment (see Mikulincer & Shaver, 2016 for a review).» (p. 1510-1511) «However, [the] results revealed no significant actor associations between attachment-related anxiety and changes in commitment, beyond the key role of attachment avoidance. Therefore, H1 and H2 were not supported. Possibly, our relatively small sample did not allow us to find small effects, beyond the stronger effect of avoidance. This suggests that attachment avoidance may play a more important role than anxiety in predicting changes in commitment in couples expecting their first child.» (p. 1512)