Intimacy and Couple Satisfaction: The Moderating Role of Romantic Attachment

Abstract

The present study extends findings regarding the established relation between intimacy (emotional and sexual) and couple satisfaction by investigating dyadic processes of intimacy (actor and partner effects) and the moderating role of gender and insecure romantic attachment on this relation. Using a sample of 117 heterosexual couples, results analyzed through an Actor-Partner-Interdependence Model revealed that only actor and partner emotional intimacy were significantly and positively related with actor couple satisfaction when examined simultaneously with sexual intimacy; stronger effects were revealed for actor versus partner emotional intimacy. Actor avoidant attachment was also found to moderate the aforementioned association, such that a decreased positive relation was demonstrated between actor emotional intimacy and actor couple satisfaction. Thus, results suggest that emotional intimacy may play a less important role in the attainment of satisfactory couple relationships amongst individuals exhibiting higher attachment avoidance. The myriad of additional practical and clinical implications of findings are discussed.