The Research Desk
Scientists at York University found that relationship satisfaction improves when activities match attachment styles: novel for avoidant, familiar for anxious.
Novel and Exciting or Tried and True? Tailoring Shared Relationship Experiences to Insecurely Attached Partners.
- Relationships
- Engagement
Schrage, K., Impett, E., Topal, M., Harasymchuk, C., Muise, A.
In plain language
This study investigates how tailoring shared experiences in relationships to individual attachment styles can influence relationship satisfaction. The research involved 390 couples who kept 21-day diaries to track their relationship experiences. It found that avoidantly attached individuals felt more satisfied with their relationships when they engaged in novel and exciting activities, while anxiously attached individuals felt more satisfied with familiar and comfortable activities.
Key findings
- Avoidantly attached individuals experienced higher relationship satisfaction with novel and exciting activities.
- Anxiously attached individuals experienced higher relationship satisfaction with familiar and comfortable activities.
- Novel activities did not enhance satisfaction for anxiously attached individuals.
- Familiar activities did not enhance satisfaction for avoidantly attached individuals.
- The effects of tailored activities extended to partners, benefiting the couple as a whole.
Why it matters
Understanding how different attachment styles respond to relationship activities can help couples enhance their relationship satisfaction and overall well-being.
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Couples can improve their relationship satisfaction by identifying and engaging in activities that align with their individual attachment needs. Those with avoidant attachments might seek novelty, while those with anxious attachments might prefer familiar activities.