Interdependent Hearts: The Role of Attachment Orientations in Relationship Responses from a Dynamic Interdependence Framework

This study examines the moderating effect of attachment orientation (anxiety and avoidance) on emotional and behavioral responses following interactions with a partner in a dynamic interdependent framework. Data were collected from 54 heterosexual cohabiting Japanese couples (108 participants) using the experience sampling method. Participants recorded their emotions, their partner’s behaviors, and the valence of these behaviors four times daily over 14 days. After controlling for intrapersonal and interpersonal effects between emotions and behaviors, results from the dynamic actor-partner interdependent model showed that women’s attachment anxiety strengthened their positive emotional and behavioral responses to their partners’ behaviors. In contrast, women’s attachment avoidance weakened their positive emotional responses to their partners’ behaviors. Additionally, men’s attachment avoidance weakened women’s behavioral responses to their behavior. While the statistical power was not high and thus limits the strength of our conclusions, these findings suggest the role of attachment orientations in shaping emotional and behavioral responses in daily romantic interactions.