Composition of spouse's attachment dimensions on marital satisfaction

Adult attachment theory is a determinant and important theory in marital relationships and marital satisfaction. The main purpose of this research was to study the marital satisfaction in regard to spouses’ anxiety and avoidance attachment. This research is a correlation one. The study population of this research was Isfahanian couples (2011) who were married at least more than one year and had no stressful events in their life up to the time of the study. 242 couples were selected through available method sampling. In this research, the Marital Satisfaction Index (CSI) and the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised Questionnaire (ECR-R) were used for collecting data. The data was analyzed by SPSS-18 and using cluster analysis, ANOVA, MANOVA, and SEM. With regard to both spouses’ marital satisfaction, four groups were identified: unsatisfied wife, devitalized spouses, satisfied spouses, and vitalized spouses. These groups were different in wife’s and husband’s marital satisfaction significantly (P<0.001). In addition these groups were different in wife’s and husband’s anxiety (P< 0.001) and avoidance (P<0.001) attachment significantly. The self and partner effect on wife’s and husband’s marital satisfaction were studied based on actor-partner interdependence model. The results showed that in both wife and husband, attachment dimensions reduced the marital satisfaction (P<0.05). Also the partner’s avoidance attachment reduced the marital satisfaction (P<0.01). Marital satisfaction could predict based on spouses’ attachment style. Marital satisfaction is affected by self and partner attachment system.