Covariation in Attachment Orientations and Support and Strain Across Multiple Relationships Over Time

Attachment orientations describe how individuals think, feel, and behave in close relationships, yet little research has examined how these orientations vary over short time periods and as a function of different relationships. In this study, 938 emerging adults completed three surveys across two months assessing attachment anxiety and avoidance, along with perceived support and strain from friends, parents, and romantic partners. Using multilevel modeling, we separated between-person and within-person variance to examine whether relationship experiences predicted both average levels and short-term fluctuations in attachment orientations. Between-person analyses showed that individuals reporting higher average support across relationship types also reported lower attachment anxiety and avoidance. Greater strain—particularly from parents and friends—was linked to higher attachment anxiety, on average. Within-person analyses revealed that higher levels of perceived support (relative to one’s typical levels) were associated with concurrent lower levels of attachment avoidance. Strain, in contrast, was not a consistent within-person predictor. These associations typically generalized across friends, parents, and romantic partners. These findings suggest that attachment orientations fluctuate alongside changes in relational experiences over relatively short periods of time. The magnitude of these fluctuations was consistent across relationships—potentially expanding the avenues through which attachment security can be promoted.