Mechanisms Linking Attachment Orientation to Sleep Quality in Married Couples

There is emerging evidence for links between relationship factors and sleep quality. Existing research linking attachment orientation to sleep quality has yielded inconsistent effects, has focused on younger samples, and has not considered underlying mechanisms of action. This research addressed the...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Personality & social psychology bulletin 2024-03, Vol.50 (3), p.331-350
Main Authors: Xie, Yuxi, Chin, Brian N., Feeney, Brooke C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Attachment
Humans
Interdependence
Married couples
Middle age
Middle Aged
Negative emotions
Object Attachment
Security
Sleep
Sleep Quality
Spouses
Surveys and Questionnaires
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Summary:There is emerging evidence for links between relationship factors and sleep quality. Existing research linking attachment orientation to sleep quality has yielded inconsistent effects, has focused on younger samples, and has not considered underlying mechanisms of action. This research addressed these gaps in two studies that investigated the links between attachment orientation and sleep quality in both younger/middle-aged (Study 1) and older (Study 2) adult couples using Actor–Partner Interdependence Models. We also tested mediating effects of relationship-specific security and negative affect. In both studies, participants completed surveys assessing their attachment orientation, sleep quality, and the proposed mediators. Both studies revealed that relationship-specific security and negative affect mediated the negative association between insecure attachment and one’s own sleep quality. This research enhances our understanding of how attachment orientation affects sleep quality, provides a foundation for future research on relationship influences on sleep, and suggests avenues for improving sleep quality.
ISSN:0146-1672
1552-7433
DOI:10.1177/01461672221123859