Is Touch in Romantic Relationships Universally Beneficial for Psychological Well-Being? The Role of Attachment Avoidance.

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Serval ID
serval:BIB_E85BF8BE7A8D
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Is Touch in Romantic Relationships Universally Beneficial for Psychological Well-Being? The Role of Attachment Avoidance.
Journal
Personality & social psychology bulletin
Author(s)
Debrot A., Stellar J.E., MacDonald G., Keltner D., Impett E.A.
ISSN
1552-7433 (Electronic)
ISSN-L
0146-1672
Publication state
Published
Issued date
10/2021
Peer-reviewed
Oui
Volume
47
Number
10
Pages
1495-1509
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article
Publication Status: ppublish
Abstract
Affectionate touch is crucial for well-being. However, attachment avoidance is associated with negative attitudes toward touch. We tested two preregistered hypotheses about how attachment avoidance influences the association between touch in romantic couples and psychological well-being. We examined whether greater attachment avoidance is associated with a reduced link between touch and well-being, and/or whether reduced touch mediates the relationship between attachment avoidance and lower well-being. Across three studies, including two dyadic ones, we measured retrospective self-reports (Studies 1 and 2), laboratory observations (Study 2), and daily experiences (Study 3) of touch. Touch and well-being were positively associated, and attachment avoidance was associated with lower well-being and less frequent touch. Touch was associated with greater well-being regardless of level of attachment avoidance, and less frequent touch mediated the negative association between attachment avoidance and well-being in most analyses. This underscores the importance of touch, even for those valuing distance and autonomy.
Keywords
Social Psychology, attachment, attachment avoidance, touch, well-being
Pubmed
Web of science
Open Access
Yes
Funding(s)
Swiss National Science Foundation / 161722
Create date
21/12/2020 15:38
Last modification date
28/09/2021 6:57
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