title: Romantic attachment insecurity predicts sexual dissatisfaction in couples seeking marital therapy.
abstract: Researchers and practitioners have noted the importance of considering individual characteristics as well as couple dynamics when attempting to understand couples and sexual difficulties. Using a dyadic approach, this study examined the links between 2 forms of romantic attachment insecurity (anxiety and avoidance) and sexual dissatisfaction among members of couples seeking couple therapy. A large clinical sample of 242 French-speaking couples completed the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale and the Index of Sexual Satisfaction. Analyses based on the actor-partner interdependence model revealed that both attachment anxiety and avoidance predicted individuals' own sexual dissatisfaction (actor effects). The authors also observed 2 partner effects: (a) anxiety in men predicted female partners' sexual dissatisfaction and (b) avoidance in women predicted male partners' sexual dissatisfaction. The results support attachment theory and have clinical implications for emotion-focused couple therapy and other approaches to couple therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Universite de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, Quebec, Canada. a.brassard@usherbrooke.ca
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brassard
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Péloquin
authors.forename: Emmanuelle
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Dupuy
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: Phillip R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Shaver
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety; D002170:Canada; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008388:Marital Therapy; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009769:Object Attachment; D012735:Sexual Dysfunction, Physiological / Q000523:psychology* / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D018454:Spouses / Q000523:psychology*