Abstract
We explored longitudinal associations between attachment, differentiation, relational satisfaction, and sexual satisfaction and desire among 286 married couples to see which of the two differing domains of attachment and differentiation of self best predict couple relationship outcomes. We observed that baseline attachment variables did not significantly predict couple sexual outcomes a year later while differentiation variables did. Specifically, husbands’ emotional cutoff predicted decreased husbands’ sexual desire and wives’ emotional reactivity predicted decreased wives’ sexual desire. Additionally, wives’ emotional cutoff predicted increased wives’ avoidant attachment and husbands’ avoidant attachment predicted decreased wives’ emotional cutoff. Implications for practitioners are discussed.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 660-679 |
Number of pages | 20 |
Journal | Sexual and Relationship Therapy |
Volume | 39 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 2024 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- attachment theory
- couples
- differentiation of self
- sexual desire
- sexual satisfaction
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Clinical Psychology
- Psychiatry and Mental health