Behavioral Psychology / Psicología Conductua (BP) is published by IMR Press from Volume 33 Issue 1 (2025). Previous articles were published by another publisher under the hybrid model (CC-BY-NC license or on a subscription basis), and they are hosted by IMR Press on imrpress.com as a courtesy and upon agreement.
ARE EMOTIONAL COMPETENCIES MEDIATORS BETWEEN ATTACHMENT AND RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION IN YOUNG COUPLES?
1 Universidad de Valencia, España
*Correspondencia: Montoya-Castilla, Inmaculada, Universitat de València, Dpto. Personalidad, Evaluación y Tratamientos Psicológicos, Avda. Blasco Ibáñez, 21, 46010 Valencia (España).
E-mail: inmaculada.montoya@uv.es
Abstract
The aim of this paper is to study the relationship between attachment and satisfaction with the partner relationship, considering the mediating role of emotional competences, and taking into account the influence of gender, age, and duration of the relationship. 265 Spanish youths (59.2% women) between 18 and 36 years of age with a current partner participated in the study. The most relevant results indicate that subjects with a dismissive avoidant style show less relationship satisfaction. Along with the fearful style, they are the ones with the poorest emotional skills. Attachment anxiety and avoidance are negatively related to relationship satisfaction, being mediated by emotional regulation. The importance of developing emotional education programs in youths as a way of mitigating the effect an insecure attachment style is discussed.
Keywords
- attachment
- emotional competences
- relationship satisfaction
- youth
- couple