Adult Attachment, Sexual Orientation, and Well-Being
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Authors
Guzzo, Susan Longworth
Issue Date
2004
Type
Dissertation
Language
en
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
While the empirical study of relationships between same-sex individuals has become a topic of increasing interest among researchers, its salience has been heightened by growing debate in the socio-political arena regarding its legal and social status, particularly with the legalization of same-sex marriage in some countries. This study evaluated the applicability of Bowlby's (1969) attachment theory to lesbians and gay men in committed, cohabitating relationships to explore the link between their attachment style and reported well-being and to identify the effects of making a public lifetime commitment on psychological well-being. Using The Experiences in Close Relationships questionnaire (Brennan, Clark &
Shaver, 1998), the Psychological Well-Being Scale (Ryff, 1989), and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (Mroczek & Kolarz, 1998), 126 gay and heterosexual subjects were surveyed to assess attachment style, subjective well-being, and psychological well-being along six domains (autonomy, environmental mastery, personal growth, positive relations with others, purpose in life, and self-acceptance). Data were analyzed through SPSS using Chi-square and analyses of variance (ANOVAs). Results revealed that attachment styles occurred in similar frequencies by sexual orientation and by gender. All subjects experienced benefits to well-being by having a secure attachment style over an insecure attachment style across all domains except purpose in life. Except for autonomy, no differences in well-being were found as a function of sexual orientation. Analysis of interaction effects provided further results of interest. In the domain of personal growth, securely attached lesbian/gay subjects showed higher well-being than both securely attached heterosexuals and anxiously attached lesbian/gay subjects. Lesbians reported higher personal growth than both gay men and heterosexual women. Both heterosexual men and lesbians reported greater autonomy than heterosexual women. Finally, greater self-acceptance was found among securely attached lesbian/gay individuals than securely attached heterosexuals. Of particular interest was the relationship between commitment and well-being. Lesbians with a public lifetime commitment to their partners experienced greater well-being in five domains than lesbians in a cohabitating relationship. No differences were found for gay men as a function of relationship commitment. This study confirms that attachment theory may be reliably used to conceptualize the relationship behavior of all individuals, regardless of sexual orientation. It further suggests that a secure attachment style is related to the experience of greater well-being and that the effect of attachment on well-being is mediated by sexual orientation.