Insecure attachment in couples is negatively associated with relationship functioning. Similarity of partner attachment on the other hand might attenuate such relationship outcomes. We tested the opposing insecurity and similarity hypotheses by examining associations of attachment with relationship satisfaction and instability in a representative community sample of couples (N = 1,014). We expected: (a) negative effects of insecure attachment (main effects of actor and partner avoidance and anxiety, and interaction effects consistent with fearful-avoidance and demand-withdraw patterns); and (b) positive effects of similarity in avoidance and anxiety. Actor-Partner-Interdependence Models showed clear support for the insecurity hypothesis. Main effects of avoidance and anxiety, explained 46.2% of the variance of satisfaction, and 17.9% of instability. We conclude that reducing insecurity of attachment, in particular avoidance, must be a central target in couple therapy. Interestingly, similarity of attachment can partially buffer the negative effects of attachment insecurity. Clinical implications are discussed.

中文翻译：

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令人满意和稳定的夫妻关系：伴侣之间的依恋相似性可以部分缓冲依恋不安全的负面影响

夫妻中的不安全依恋与关系功能呈负相关。另一方面，伴侣依恋的相似性可能会削弱这种关系的结果。我们通过检查具有代表性的社区夫妻样本中的依恋与关系满意度和不稳定性之间的关联，测试了相反的不安全感和相似性假设（N = 1,014）。我们预期： (a) 不安全依恋的负面影响（行为者和伴侣回避和焦虑的主要影响，以及与恐惧回避和需求退出模式一致的互动效应）；(b) 回避和焦虑的相似性的积极影响。参与者-合作伙伴-相互依赖模型明确支持不安全假设。回避和焦虑的主要影响解释了 46.2% 的满意度方差和 17.9% 的不稳定性。我们得出的结论是，减少依恋的不安全感，尤其是回避，必须成为夫妻治疗的核心目标。有趣的是，依恋的相似性可以部分缓冲依恋不安全的负面影响。讨论了临床意义。