Spouses’ attachment orientations shape physiological responses to relational stress over time.

Lindsey Beck, Emerson CollegeFollow

Affiliation of Author, Researcher, or Creator

Marlboro Institute of Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies

Department

Marlboro Institute for Liberal Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies

Author(s)

Beck, L. A., Pietromonaco, P. R., Ge, F., Carnes, N. C., Laws, H., & Powers, S. I.

Resource Type

Article

Publication, Publisher or Distributor

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships

Publication Date

2023

Brief Description

This research examined how the interplay between spouses’ attachment orientations contributes to physiological responses to relational stress. Mixed-gender newlyweds (NWave 1 = 218 couples; NWave 2 = 184 couples; NWave 3 = 164 couples) discussed relationship conflicts during three laboratory sessions over the first 3–4 years of marriage. Individuals provided saliva samples to assess their cortisol levels before, during, and after each conflict, which reflected physiological responses to stress. Across all three waves, anxiously-attached individuals showed greater cortisol reactivity (via faster rates of cortisol change and/or more exaggerated changes in cortisol slope) in anticipation of conflicts, especially when they had an avoidantly-attached partner. Findings highlight the dyadic nature of spouses’ responses to relational stress.

Keywords

close relationships, adult attachment, conflict, cortisol

Recommended Citation

Beck, L. A., Pietromonaco, P. R., Ge, F., Carnes, N. C., Laws, H., & Powers, S. I. (2023). Spouses’ attachment orientations shape physiological responses to relational stress over time. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 40(10), 3121-3146. https://doi.org/10.1177/02654075231169305

Preferred Citation Style

APA

Peer Reviewed

1

License Agreement

1

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