Abstract
Using a dyadic design, we examined associations between adult attachment and relational ethics in a sample of 69 mixed-gender couples seeking therapy at a university clinic. Results showed significant variance between couples’ reports of relational ethics, explained by male partners’ attachment avoidance and anxiety styles. Overall, when attachment anxiety was high, partners themselves experienced greater relational ethics, but the other partner experienced lesser relational ethics. Additionally, some important gender differences emerged. While higher attachment avoidance in men was related to decreased relational ethics for both partners, increased attachment anxiety in men was related to their own reports of higher relational ethics in the relationship. This work represents a step toward empirical integration of adult attachment theory and contextual theory of therapy and points to opportunities for the development of clinical implications.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ainsworth, M. D. S., & Bowlby, J. (1991). An ethological approach to personality development. American Psychologist, 46(4), 331–341.
Belous, C. K. (2015). Couple therapy with lesbian partners using an affirmative-contextual approach. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 43(3), 269–281. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2015.1012234.
Bernal, G., Rodriguez, C., & Diamond, G. (1990). Contextual therapy: Brief treatment of an addict and spouse. Family Process, 29, 59–71. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300,1990.000.
Boszormenyi-Nagy, I., Grunebaum, J., & Ulrich, D. (1991). Contextual therapy. In A. S. Gurman & D. Kniskern (Eds.), Handbook of family therapy. (Vol. 2, pp. 200–238). Brunner/Mazel.
Boszormenyi-Nagy, I., & Krasner, B. (1986). Between give and take: A clinical guide to contextual therapy. Brunner/Mazel.
Bowlby, J. (1988). A secure base parent-child attachment and healthy human development. Basic Books.
Brassard, A., Péloquin, K., Dupuy, E., Wright, J., & Shaver, P. R. (2012). Romantic Attachment insecurity predicts sexual dissatisfaction in couples seeking marital therapy. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 38(3), 245–262. https://doi.org/10.1080/0092623X.2011.606881.
Brassard, A., Shaver, P., & Lussier, Y. (2007). Attachment, sexual experience, and sexual pressure in romantic relationships: A dyadic approach. Personal Relationships, 14, 475–493. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1475-6811.2007.00166.x.
Brennan, K. A., Clark, C. L., & Shaver, P. R. (1998). Self-report measurement of adult romantic attachment: An integrative overview. In J. A. Simpson & W. S. Rholes (Eds.), Attachment theory and close relationships. (pp. 46–76). Guilford Press.
Brown-Standridge, D. M., & Floyd, W. C. (2000). Healing bittersweet legacies: Revisiting contextual family therapy for grandparents raising grandchildren in crisis. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 26, 185–219. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2000.tb00288.x.
Callaci, M., Péloquin, K., Barry, R. A., & Tremblay, N. (2020). A dyadic analysis of attachment insecurities and romantic disengagement among couples seeking relationship therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 46(3), 399–412. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12422.
Cole, L. C., & Cole, L. A. (1999). Boundary ambiguities that bind former spouses together after the children leave home in post-divorce families. Family Relations, 48, 271–272. https://doi.org/10.2307/585636.
Combrinck-Graham, L. (1990). Accountability in family therapy involving children. Journal of Psychotherapy and the Family, 6, 9–27. https://doi.org/10.1300/J287v06n03_02.
Cooper, A. N., Totenhagen, C. J., Curran, M. A., Randall, A. K., & Smith, N. E. (2017). Relationship quality in same-sex couples: Attachment and sacrifice motives. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, 11(2), 146–160. https://doi.org/10.1037/ebs0000089.
Coppola, J. (2019). An integrated EFT-contextual approach for couples therapy: Suggested model and ideas for practice. Journal of Family Therapy, 42, 588–612. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12282.
Dankoski, M. E., & Deacon, S. A. (2000). Using a feminist lens in contextual therapy. Family Process, 39, 51–66. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1545-5300.2000.39107.x.
Ducommun-Nagy, C. (2002). Contextual therapy. In F. Kaslow, R. Massey, & S. Massey (Eds.), Comprehensive handbook of psychotherapy, Vol. 3: Interpersonal/humanistic/existential. Wiley.
Fishbane, M. D. (1998) I, thou, and we: a dialogical approach to couples therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 24(1): 41–58. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.1998.tb01062.x
Fitzpatrick, J., & Lafontaine, M. F. (2017). Attachment, trust, and satisfaction in relationships: Investigating actor, partner, and mediating effects. Personal Relationships, 24, 640–662. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12203.
Gangamma, R., Bartle-Haring, S., & Glebova, T. (2012). A study of contextual therapy theory's relational ethics in couples in therapy. Family Relations, 61(5), 825–835. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1741-3729.2012.00732.x.
Gangamma, R., Bartle-Haring, S., Holowacz, E., Hartwell, E. E., & Glebova, T. (2015). Relational ethics, depressive symptoms, and relationship satisfaction in couples in therapy. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 41(3), 354–366. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12070.
Gangamma, R., Glebova, T., & Coppola, J. (2016) Fairness in couples and families. In J. Lebow, A. Chamber & C. D. Bruenlin (Eds.), Encyclopedia of couple and family therapy (pp. 1–7). Springer.
Goldenthal, P. (1993). Contextual family therapy: Assessment and intervention procedures. Professional Resource Press. https://doi.org/10.1037/034289.
Grames, H. A., Miller, R. B., Robinson, W. D., Higgins, D. J., & Hinton, W. J. (2008). A test of contextual theory: the relationship among relational ethics, marital satisfaction, health problems, and depression. Contemporary Family Therapy, 30, 183–198. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-008-9073-3.
Greenberg, L. S., & Johnson, S. M. (2010). Emotionally focused therapy for couples. Guilford Press.
Hargrave, T. D., & Anderson, W. (1990). Contextual family therapy and older people: Building trust in the intergeneration family. Journal of Family Therapy, 12(4), 311–320. https://doi.org/10.1046/l.1990.00399.x.
Hargrave, T. D., Jennings, G., & Anderson, W. (1991). The development of a relational ethics scale. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 17, 145–158. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.1991.tb00990.x.
Hargrave, T., & Pfitzer, F. (2003). The new contextual therapy: Guiding the power of give and take. Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203501368.
Hazan, C., & Shaver, P. (1987). Romantic love conceptualized as an attachment process. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 52(3), 511–524. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.52.3.511.
Heiden-Rootes, K. M. H. (2013). Wanted fathers: Understanding gay father families through contextual family therapy. Journal of GLBT Family Studies, 9, 43–64. https://doi.org/10.1080/1550428X.2013.746055.
Hollist, C. S., & Miller, R. B. (2005). Perceptions of attachment style and marital quality in midlife marriage. Family Relations, 54, 46–57. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0197-6664.2005.00005.x.
Johnson, S. M. (2019). Attachment theory in practice: Emotionally focused therapy (EFT) with individuals, couples, and families. Guilford Press.
Kawar, C., Coppola, J.,& Gangamma, R. (2018). A contextual perspective on associations between reported parental infidelity and relational ethics of the adult children. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 45(2). 354–363. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12331.
Kenny, D. A., Kashy, D. A., & Cook, W. L. (2006). Dyadic data analysis. Guilford Press.
Lyness, P. K. (2003). Extending emotionally focused therapy for couples to the contextual realm: Emotionally focused contextual therapy. Journal of Couple and Relationship Therapy, 2, 19–32. https://doi.org/10.1300/J398v02n04_02.
McPhee, D. P., Austin, K. L., & Eichenberger, L. R. (2019). Using contextual therapy to treat depression with couples. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 47(5), 275–292. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2019.1673261.
Meyer, I. H. (2003). Prejudice, social stress, and mental health in lesbian, gay and bisexual populations: Conceptual issues and research evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 129, 674–697. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.129.5.674.
Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2004). What do self-report attachment measures assess? In W. S. Rholes & J. A. Simpson (Eds.), Adult attachment theory, research, and clinical implications. The Guildford Press.
Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2005). Attachment theory and emotions in close relationships: Exploring the attachment-related dynamics of emotional reactions to relational events. Personal Relationships, 12, 149–168. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1350-4126.2005.00108.x.
Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2007). Attachment in adulthood structure, dynamics, and change. The Guilford Press.
Mohr, J. J., Selterman, D., & Fassinger, R. E. (2013). Romantic attachment and relationship functioning in same-sex couples. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 60(1), 72–82. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030994.
Molero, F., Shaver, P. R., Fernández, I., Alonso-Arbiol, I., & Recio, P. (2016). Long-term partners’ relationship satisfaction and their perceptions of each other’s attachment insecurities. Personal Relationships, 23, 159–171. https://doi.org/10.1111/pere.12117.
Mondor, J., McDuff, P., Lussier, Y., & Wright, J. (2011). Couples in therapy: Actor-partner analyses of the relationships between adult romantic attachment and marital satisfaction. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 39, 112–123. https://doi.org/10.1080/01926187.2010.230163.
Nisenbaum, M. G., & Lopez, F. G. (2015). Adult attachment orientations and anger expression in romantic relationships: A dyadic analysis. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 62(1), 63–72. https://doi.org/10.1037/cou0000047.
Novak, J. R., Sandberg, J. G., & Davis, S. Y. (2016). The role of attachment behaviors in the link between relationship satisfaction and depression in clinical couples: Implications for clinical practice. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 43(2), 352–363. https://doi.org/10.1111/jmft.12201.
Patton, R., & Weigold, I. K. (2020). Examining alcohol use and relational ethics in a college student sample. Journal of American College Health. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481.2020.1756824.
Péloquin, K., Lafontaine, M. F., & Brassard, A. (2011). A dyadic approach to the study of romantic attachment, dyadic empathy, and psychological partner aggression. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 28(7), 915–942. https://doi.org/10.1177/0265407510397988.
Pietromonaco, P. R., & Barrett, L. F. (2000). The internal working models concept: What do we really know about the self in relation to others? Review of General Psychology, 4(2), 155–175.
Raudenbush, S. W., Bryk, A. S., Cheong, Y. F., & Congdon, R. (2019). HLM 8 for Windows [Computer software]. Scientific Software International Inc.
Rholes, W. S., & Simpson, J. A. (2004). Adult attachment theory, research, and clinical implications. The Guildford Press.
Rholes, W., Simpson, J. A., Tran, S., Martin, A., & Friedman, M. (2007). Attachment and information seeking in romantic relationships. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 33(3), 422–438. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167206296302.
Rived-Ocaña, M., Schweer-Collins, M. L., & Rodríguez-González, M. (2020). Spanish adaptation of the relational ethics scale. Contemporary Family Therapy, 42, 346–359. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-020-09540-y.
Schmidt, A. E., Green, M. S., & Prouty, A. M. (2015a). Effects of parental infidelity and interparental conflict on relational ethics between adult children and parents: A contextual perspective. Journal of Family Therapy, 38(3), 386–408. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-6427.12091.
Schmidt, A. E., Green, M. S., Sibley, D. S., & Prouty, A. M. (2015b). Effects of parental infidelity on Adult Children’s Relational Ethics with their partners: A contextual perspective. Journal of Couple & Relationship Therapy, 15(3), 193–212. https://doi.org/10.1080/15332691.2014.998848.
Shokouhi-Behnam, S., Chambliss, C. A., & Caruso, K. A. (1997). Cross-cultural applicability of contextual family therapy: Iranian and American college students’ perceptions of familial and peer relationships. Psychological Reports, 80(2), 691–694. https://doi.org/10.2466/pr0.1997.80.2.691.
Sibley, C. G., Fischer, R., & Liu, J. H. (2005). Reliability and validity of the revised experiences in close relationships (ECR-R) self-report measure of adult romantic attachment. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 31(11), 1524–1536. https://doi.org/10.1177/0146167205276865.
Sibley, D. S., Schmidt, A., & Kimmes, J. G. (2015). Applying a contextual therapy framework to treat panic disorder: A case study. Journal of Family Psychotherapy, 26(4), 299–317. https://doi.org/10.1080/08975353.205.1097285.
Simpson, J. A., & Rholes, W. S. (2017). Adult attachment, stress, and romantic relationships. Current Opinion in Psychology, 13, 19–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.04.006.
Simpson, J.A., & Rholes, W. S. (2017). Adult attachment, stress, and romantic relationships. Current Opinion in Psychology, 13. 19-24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.04.006
van der Meiden, J., Noordegraaf, M., & van Ewijk, H. (2019). How is contextual therapy applied today? An analysis of the practice of current contextual therapists. Contemporary Family Therapy, 41, 12–23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-018-9467-9.
van der Meiden, J., Verduijn, K., Noordegraaf, M., & van Ewijk, H. (2020). Strengthening connectedness in close relationships: A model for applying contextual therapy. Family Process, 59(2), 346–360. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12425.
Wei, M., Russell, D. W., Mallinckrodt, B., & Vogel, D. L. (2007). The Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (ECR)-short form: Reliability, validity, and factor structure. Journal of Personality Assessment, 88(2), 187–204. https://doi.org/10.1080/00223890701268041.
Wiebe, S. A., & Johnson, S. M. (2016). A review of the research in emotionally focused therapy for couples. Family Process, 55, 390–407. https://doi.org/10.1111/famp.12229.
Wilson, K. L., Glebova, T., Davis, S., & Seshadri, G. (2017). Adolescent mothers in foster care: Relational ethics, depressive symptoms and health problems through a contextual therapy lens. Contemporary Family Therapy, 39, 150–161. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-017-9417-y.
Wittenborn, A. K., Dolbin-MacNab, M. L., & Keiley, M. K. (2013). Dyadic research in marriage and family therapy: Methodological considerations. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 39, 5–16. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1752-0606.2012.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Coppola, J., Gangamma, R., Kawar, C. et al. Adult Romantic Attachment and Relational Ethics: A Dyadic Analysis of Couples in Therapy. Contemp Fam Ther 43, 234–247 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-021-09574-w
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-021-09574-w