Attachments to Mother, Father, and Romantic Partner as Predictors of Life Satisfaction

Attachments to Mother, Father, and Romantic Partner as Predictors of Life Satisfaction

Two correlational survey studies were conducted among adult samples (Ns  =  205; 697) to test the effects on general life satisfaction of attachment to three close others: mother, father, and romantic partner. Results showed that attachment to mother and father also matter in adulthood, in that they...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Family journal (Alexandria, Va.) Vol. 30; no. 4; pp. 570 - 578
Main Authors: Zagefka, Hanna, Andrew, Natalya, Boelen, Brigitte, Cummings, Olivia, Denton, Ruby, Harris, Sajadea, Knoetig, Leonore, Mahmood, Muskaan, Shahid, Anisa, Swan, Matthea, Tarter, Julia, Welch, Amanda, Williams, Rachel
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01-10-2022
SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
Subjects:
Attachment
Couples
Effects
Fathers
Life satisfaction
adult attachment
close relationships
life satisfaction
attachment
romantic relationship
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Summary:Two correlational survey studies were conducted among adult samples (Ns  =  205; 697) to test the effects on general life satisfaction of attachment to three close others: mother, father, and romantic partner. Results showed that attachment to mother and father also matter in adulthood, in that they are associated with adult life satisfaction. Secure attachments to mother and father were positively associated with life satisfaction, and anxious and avoidant attachments to mother and father were negatively associated with life satisfaction. Moreover, attachment to the romantic partner was also related to life satisfaction, so that secure attachment was positively related to life satisfaction, and anxious and avoidant attachments were negatively related to the outcome variable. Importantly, attachment to mother and father were still significant predictors of life satisfaction when effects of attachment to the current romantic partner were controlled for. The effects of parental attachments on life satisfaction were not mediated by attachment to the romantic partner. Theoretical and applied implications of the findings are discussed.
ISSN:1066-4807
1552-3950
DOI:10.1177/10664807211064147