Attachment Insecurity and Loneliness in Romantic Relationships: Examining Actor and Partner Effects
Aileen Generoso, Sally Chan
Department of Psychology
Faculty Supervisor: Sarah Holley
Loneliness can have major impacts on mental and physical health (Hawkley & Cacioppo, 2010). Romantic relationships are often assumed to protect against loneliness by providing emotional support and connection. However, individuals in relationships may still experience loneliness, raising questions about the relational factors that might contribute to loneliness. One potential factor is insecure attachment. Those with an anxious attachment style tend to have a fear of rejection and need for reassurance, whereas those with an avoidant attachment style tend to have discomfort with closeness and seek emotional distance. The present study examined if these insecure attachment styles contributed to feelings of loneliness for people in romantic relationships.
682 undergraduate students and their romantic partners completed an online survey study. Actor-partner interdependence models were used for analysis. Results showed significant actor effects, with high levels of anxious and avoidant attachment associated with higher levels of loneliness for both women and men. Results further showed a relatively weak partner effect for women’s anxious attachment on partner loneliness; no other partner effects were significant. Findings suggest a person’s own attachment style has a larger impact on their loneliness than their partner’s attachment style and highlights the importance of emotional security in romantic relationships.