ATTACHMENT STYLES, EMOTIONAL DEPENDENCY, JEALOUSY, AND MARITAL ADJUSTMENT AMONG MARRIED ADULTS

Abstract

ABSTRACT The current study aimed to explore the relationship between attachment style, emotional dependency, jealousy, and marital adjustment among married adults. It is hypothesized that a) There would be a relationship between attachment styles (Secure, Preoccupied, Dismissive, Fearful), and emotional dependency, with jealousy among married adults. b) There would be a relationship between attachment styles (Secure, Preoccupied, Dismissive, Fearful), and emotional dependency, with marital adjustment among married adults. c) Adult attachment styles (Secure, Preoccupied, Dismissive, and Fearful) and emotional dependency would predict jealousy among married adults. d) Adult attachment styles (Secure, Preoccupied, Dismissive, and Fearful) and emotional dependency would predict marital adjustment among married adults. e) There would be gender differences in attachment styles (Secure, Preoccupied, Dismissive, and Fearful), emotional dependency, jealousy, and marital adjustment. A non-probability, convenient sampling technique was utilized in this work to conduct quantitative research. Four hundred and Forty-five married individuals were included through convenient sampling in this study. Participants completed the demographic form, Relationship Scale Questionnaire (Griffin & Bartholomew‚ 1994), Partner’s Emotional Dependency scale (Camarillz, Ferre, Echeburua, and Amor, 2020), Multidimensional Jealousy Scale (Pfeiffer and Wong, 1989), and Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (Busby, Christensen, 1995). For statistical analysis of the data, the statistics software SPSS (version 22) was used. The findings showed that attachment styles (Preoccupied, Dismissive, Fearful), and emotional dependency are positively correlated with each other (r=.56**, r=.69**, r=.59**, r=.41**), and secure attachment styles negatively correlated with jealousy are positively correlated with each other (r=-.45**), **p<.01 and attachment styles (Preoccupied, Dismissive, Fearful), emotional dependency, and marital adjustment are negatively correlated with each other (r=-.30**, r=-.45**, r=-.46**, r=-.55**), **p<.01 and secure attachment style positively associated with marital adjustment(r=.32**), **p<.01. Finding of regression analysis show that attachment styles (Secure, Preoccupied, Dismissive, Fearful) and emotional dependency were significant predictors of jealousy (F=6.48 =1,439 p<.01) and attachment styles (Secure, Preoccupied, Dismissive, Fearful) and emotional dependency were significant predictors of marital adjustment (F=111.32= 1,439, p<.001). Findings of the independent sample t-test revealed that there were highly significant gender differences in attachment styles (Secure, Preoccupied, Dismissive, Fearful), emotional dependency, jealousy, and marital adjustment (***p˂.001). Key Words: Attachment Styles, Emotional Dependency, Jealousy, Marital Adjustment, Married Adults.