Surface of Marital Harmony: Insights into Attachment Similarity Using Dyadic Response Surface Analysis

This study examined the association between attachment styles (avoidance and anxiety) and marital satisfaction in 202 couples from Northeast India. Dyadic Response Surface Analysis (DRSA) tested for nonlinear effects of similarity in attachment on marital satisfaction. The Actor-Partner Interdependence Model (APIM) examined linear actor and partner effects. Results revealed a positive association between moderate avoidance similarity and husbands’ marital satisfaction, with no significant effect for similarity in anxiety. Interestingly, husbands’ anxious attachment positively predicted wives’ marital satisfaction, challenging traditional attachment theory. These findings highlight the importance of considering cultural context and gender differences when examining attachment and marital satisfaction. The clinical implications for married couples are discussed.