Attachment, Relational Maintenance Behaviors and Relationship Quality in Romantic Long-Distance Relationships: A Dyadic Perspective

This study tested an actor-partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM) in which dyadic relational maintenance behaviors (RMBs) mediate the relationship between romantic attachment (i.e., anxious and avoidant) and multiple indicators of relationship quality among couples in long-distance relatio...

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Main Authors: Geneviève Bouchard, Madeleine Gaudet, Gabrielle Cloutier, Myriam Martin
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: PsychOpen GOLD/ Leibniz Institute for Psychology 2023-12-01
Series:Interpersona: An International Journal on Personal Relationships
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.5964/ijpr.9771
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author Geneviève Bouchard
Madeleine Gaudet
Gabrielle Cloutier
Myriam Martin
author_facet Geneviève Bouchard
Madeleine Gaudet
Gabrielle Cloutier
Myriam Martin
author_sort Geneviève Bouchard
collection DOAJ
description This study tested an actor-partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM) in which dyadic relational maintenance behaviors (RMBs) mediate the relationship between romantic attachment (i.e., anxious and avoidant) and multiple indicators of relationship quality among couples in long-distance relationships (LDRs). Data were collected from 137 couples (women’s mean age = 20.37 years; men’s mean age = 21.93) who were in a serious romantic LDR and who completed an attachment measure, a measure of dyadic RMBs, and four measures of relationship quality (i.e., relationship satisfaction, relational commitment, closeness with the partner, and connection with others). Path analyses revealed significant actor and partner effects. Moreover, a total mediation between women’s anxious attachment and both partners’ relationship quality, and a partial mediation between men’s and women’s avoidant attachment and their own relationship quality were uncovered. Overall, the results suggest that, for couples in LDRs, one partner’s behaviors, cognitions, or emotions influence each member of the dyad as well as the quality of the relationship.
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spelling doaj.art-c570ce93883f4b5294b8fa28b2b5e3d32024-02-08T10:56:16ZengPsychOpen GOLD/ Leibniz Institute for PsychologyInterpersona: An International Journal on Personal Relationships1981-64722023-12-0117221323110.5964/ijpr.9771ijpr.9771Attachment, Relational Maintenance Behaviors and Relationship Quality in Romantic Long-Distance Relationships: A Dyadic PerspectiveGeneviève Bouchard0Madeleine Gaudet1Gabrielle Cloutier2Myriam Martin3School of Psychology, Université de Moncton, New Brunswick, CanadaSchool of Psychology, Université de Moncton, New Brunswick, CanadaSchool of Psychology, Université de Moncton, New Brunswick, CanadaSchool of Psychology, Université de Moncton, New Brunswick, CanadaThis study tested an actor-partner interdependence mediation model (APIMeM) in which dyadic relational maintenance behaviors (RMBs) mediate the relationship between romantic attachment (i.e., anxious and avoidant) and multiple indicators of relationship quality among couples in long-distance relationships (LDRs). Data were collected from 137 couples (women’s mean age = 20.37 years; men’s mean age = 21.93) who were in a serious romantic LDR and who completed an attachment measure, a measure of dyadic RMBs, and four measures of relationship quality (i.e., relationship satisfaction, relational commitment, closeness with the partner, and connection with others). Path analyses revealed significant actor and partner effects. Moreover, a total mediation between women’s anxious attachment and both partners’ relationship quality, and a partial mediation between men’s and women’s avoidant attachment and their own relationship quality were uncovered. Overall, the results suggest that, for couples in LDRs, one partner’s behaviors, cognitions, or emotions influence each member of the dyad as well as the quality of the relationship.https://doi.org/10.5964/ijpr.9771attachment, couples, dyadic data analysis, long-distance relationships, relational maintenance behaviorsrelationship quality
spellingShingle Geneviève Bouchard
Madeleine Gaudet
Gabrielle Cloutier
Myriam Martin
Attachment, Relational Maintenance Behaviors and Relationship Quality in Romantic Long-Distance Relationships: A Dyadic Perspective
Interpersona: An International Journal on Personal Relationships
attachment, couples, dyadic data analysis, long-distance relationships, relational maintenance behaviors
relationship quality
title Attachment, Relational Maintenance Behaviors and Relationship Quality in Romantic Long-Distance Relationships: A Dyadic Perspective
title_full Attachment, Relational Maintenance Behaviors and Relationship Quality in Romantic Long-Distance Relationships: A Dyadic Perspective
title_fullStr Attachment, Relational Maintenance Behaviors and Relationship Quality in Romantic Long-Distance Relationships: A Dyadic Perspective
title_full_unstemmed Attachment, Relational Maintenance Behaviors and Relationship Quality in Romantic Long-Distance Relationships: A Dyadic Perspective
title_short Attachment, Relational Maintenance Behaviors and Relationship Quality in Romantic Long-Distance Relationships: A Dyadic Perspective
title_sort attachment relational maintenance behaviors and relationship quality in romantic long distance relationships a dyadic perspective
topic attachment, couples, dyadic data analysis, long-distance relationships, relational maintenance behaviors
relationship quality
url https://doi.org/10.5964/ijpr.9771
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AT madeleinegaudet attachmentrelationalmaintenancebehaviorsandrelationshipqualityinromanticlongdistancerelationshipsadyadicperspective
AT gabriellecloutier attachmentrelationalmaintenancebehaviorsandrelationshipqualityinromanticlongdistancerelationshipsadyadicperspective
AT myriammartin attachmentrelationalmaintenancebehaviorsandrelationshipqualityinromanticlongdistancerelationshipsadyadicperspective