Need Satisfaction, Partner Attachment, and Romantic Relationship Quality: A Multiple Mediation Model

Year 2019, Volume: 9 Issue: 1, 163 - 180, 01.02.2019

Ali Serdar Sağkal Yalçın Özdemir

https://doi.org/10.18039/ajesi.520839

Cited By: 5

Abstract

Research
findings underscore the importance of need satisfaction on romantic
relationship quality. However, there is a need for research to explore the
mechanism that account for the relationship between need satisfaction and
relationship quality. The present study examines direct and indirect effects of
need satisfaction on romantic relationship quality through partner attachment
avoidance and anxiety. Data were collected from 309 emerging adults (Mage =
20.91 years, SD = 1.96; 81.6% female) currently being in a romantic
relationship. Participants completed a battery of measures assessing need
satisfaction, partner attachment, and relationship quality. After removing
missing values and outliers, a total of 290 cases were retained for the
analyses. Consistent with self-determination theory, results indicated that
need satisfaction was associated with relationship quality and that this
association was partially mediated through partner attachment avoidance.
Counter to expectations, partner attachment anxiety did not mediate the
relationship between need satisfaction and relationship quality. Findings
highlight the role of need satisfaction and partner attachment avoidance in
contributing to emerging adults’ relationship quality. Limitations,
implications, and future directions are discussed.

Keywords

Need satisfaction, partner attachment, romantic relationship quality, emerging adults

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