Love addiction and sexual satisfaction within the attachment perspective

An empirical contribution

Datos Bibliográficos

ID12978675
AutoresGuyonne Rogier (0000-0001-5320-4478, University of Genoa), Ferdinando Di Marzio, Christian Presicci, Roberta Gabriella Cavalli (0000-0001-9123-0220, Sapienza University of Rome), Patrizia Velotti (0000-0002-1933-8314, Sapienza University of Rome, autor de correspondencia)
Año2024
Volumen15
Número4
Páginas694-709
Fecha de publicación2024-03-26
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaPsychology and Sexuality (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1941-9902 • E-ISSN: 1941-9899
EditorialTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/19419899.2024.2334412
OpenAlexW4393192415
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas3
Referencias citadas63

This study aims to test the predictive capacity of the attachment theory in delineating the line between normal and pathological love as well as testing the moderating role of gender in the link between insecure attachment and sexual satisfaction. We administered to a sample of 307 adults the Attachment Style Questionnaire (ASQ), the Love Addiction Inventory (LAI), the Passionate Love Scale (PLS), and the New Sexual Satisfaction Scale (NSSS). We found that some subscales of the ASQ predict LAI scores and that the relationship between passionate love and love addiction was positively moderated by insecure styles of attachment (i.e. discomfort for closeness, preoccupation for relationships, and need for approval). In addition, insecure attachment was negatively related to sexual satisfaction. However, moderation analyses evidenced that the relationship between attachment avoidance and low sexual satisfaction was positive only among males. The study confirmed the utility of the attachment perspective in the understanding of the processes underlying romantic relationships. Results also suggest that the quality of attachment style may be a key factor in differentiating normal from pathological love and that the impact of avoidant attachment style on sexual satisfaction may follow different pathways according to gender

Addiction · Attachment theory · Developmental psychology · Empirical research · Epistemology · Perspective (graphical · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Marriage and Sexual Relationships · Psychology · Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology · Social Psychology