Some scholars have proposed that people in couples in which at least one person is secure are just as satisfied as people in which both members are secure (i.e., buffering hypothesis). The present investigation tested this hypothesis by examining how relationship satisfaction varies as a function of the attachment security of both dyad members. Secondary analyses were performed using data from two studies (Study 1: 172 couples; Study 2: 194 couples) in which heterosexual dating couples were asked to complete self-reports of their own attachment style and relationship satisfaction. To evaluate the buffering hypothesis, we fit a standard APIM using SEM and added an actor × partner interaction term to our model. Contrary to expectations, our results suggested that secure partners do not “buffer” insecurely attached individuals. Moreover, partner attachment did not explain satisfaction much above and beyond actor effects. This work addresses a gap in the literature with respect to the dynamic interplay of partner pairing, allowing scholars to better understand attachment processes in romantic relationships.

一些学者提出，夫妻中至少有一个人安全的人与两个人都安全的人一样满意（即缓冲假设）。本研究通过检查关系满意度如何根据两个二元成员的依恋安全性而变化，从而检验了这一假设。使用来自两项研究（研究1：172对；研究2：194对）的数据进行了次要分析，其中异性恋约会情侣被要求完成自己对自己的依恋风格和关系满意度的自我报告。为了评估缓冲假说，我们使用SEM拟合了标准APIM，并在模型中添加了actor×合作伙伴交互项。与期望相反，我们的结果表明，安全的合作伙伴不会“缓冲”没有安全保障的个人。而且，伴侣的依恋并不能解释超出演员作用之外的满意度。