The Moderating Role of Affective Temperament on the Relationship Between Attachment Styles and Dyadic Adjustment States

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to examine the moderating role of positive and negative affectivity on the relationship between attachment styles and dyadic adjustment. Participants consisted of 378 married individuals (194 women, 184 men). All of whom completed the Adult Attachment Inventory (AAI), The Glombok-Rust Inventory of Marital State Questionnaire (GRIMS), and The Positive and Negative Emotionality Scale (PNES). The results showed a significant positive correlation between secure attachment style and positive affectivity with dyadic adjustment. Insecure attachment styles (avoidant and ambivalence) and negative affectivity showed a significant negative correlation with dyadic adjustment. Analysis of data also revealed that the relationship between secure and insecure ambivalence attachment styles and dyadic adjustment were moderated by negative affectivity. Increasing levels of negative affectivity was accompanied stronger relationship between secure and insecure ambivalence attachment styles and dyadic adjustment. It can be concluded that attachment styles as well as positive and negative affectivity can predict dyadic adjustment.

Keywords

• attachment
• negative affect
• positive affect
• dyadic adjustment