Working models of attachment to parents and partners: Implications for affective marital interactions

Given the significant impact of positive and negative emotional exchanges on marital satisfaction and stability (e.g., Gottman & Levenson, 2000), it is important to determine which factors are related to individual differences in emotional behavior during marital interactions. A primary aim of the current study was to examine whether, and under what conditions, working models of attachment are associated with observed positive affect, sadness, and anger during marital conflict. Narrative interviews were employed to assess the unique and combined contribution of attachment representations based on relationships with one's parents (adult attachment) and one's partner (couple attachment). Partner's attachment representations, both partners' depression symptoms, gender, length of marriage, and the level of disagreement between spouses were examined to assess under what conditions these attachment models may have more or less influence on affective marital interactions. Hierarchical linear models demonstrated that security in the current marital relationship, but not security of attachment to parents, predicted positive emotional behavior. In addition, partners' couple attachment security and depression symptoms predicted participants' expressions of sadness. This pattern of findings suggests that one's own security within the couple relationship influences one's positive affective behavior, whereas partner's security within the relationship influences one's negative affective behavior. Although adult attachment security did not contribute uniquely to emotional behavior, current anger at mother was associated with lower observed positive affect, suggesting that there is a possible spillover of emotions from parent-child to marital relationships. In addition, it appears that attachment representations may be more closely linked to expressions of sadness and positive affect than to expressions of anger. Clinical implications of these findings are discussed.