ATTACHMENT STYLES AS PREDICTORS OF THE QUALITY OF ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS IN YOUNG ADULTS

Abstract

This article presents the results of a theoretical and empirical study on the influence of attachment styles on the quality of romantic relationships in young adulthood. The relevance of this study stems from the fact that early adulthood is a crucial stage in the formation of close interpersonal relationships, which shape an individual’s subsequent emotional, social, and personal development. Within the framework of contemporary psychological approaches, the quality of romantic relationships is viewed as a multidimensional phenomenon that includes relationship satisfaction and the level of emotional intimacy. The theoretical basis of the study is attachment theory, according to which anxiety and avoidance are key dimensions that determine the characteristics of emotional regulation and behavior in interpersonal interaction. The aim of the study is an empirical examination of the relationship between attachment styles and indicators of the quality of romantic relationships. The study involved 142 participants aged 18–25. Data were collected using an attachment styles questionnaire, a romantic relationship satisfaction scale, and a method for assessing emotional intimacy. The results were analyzed using correlation analysis. The results of the study revealed statistically significant negative associations between anxiety and avoidance indicators and the quality of romantic relationships. It was found that avoidant attachment has a more pronounced negative impact on the level of emotional intimacy, whereas anxiety is associated with reduced relationship satisfaction. At the same time, a strong positive correlation was found between emotional closeness and relationship satisfaction. The results confirm that attachment styles serve as important psychological predictors of the quality of romantic relationships in young adulthood and have practical significance for psychological counseling.