Sex differences in romantic attachment among Chinese

A meta-analysis

Bibliographic Data

ID2917080
AuthorsDongju Li (0000-0001-8682-8025, Southwest University), Cong Shu (Southwest University), Xu Chen (0000-0002-8164-3088, Southwest University, corresponding author)
Year2019
Volume36
Issue9
Pages2652-2676
Publication date2019-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueJournal of Social and Personal Relationships (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0265-4075 • E-ISSN: 1460-3608
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/0265407518793533
OpenAlexW2890073764
LanguageEN
Citations received5
References cited31

Although several studies support evolutionary perspectives on sex differences in romantic attachment, these sex differences in East Asia remain controversial. To estimate the effect size of sex differences in romantic attachment among Chinese adults, a meta-analysis of sex differences was conducted in the present study. This meta-analysis was based on 111 samples using the Chinese version of the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale and its revised version. The findings suggest that the effect size of sex differences in romantic attachment among Chinese adults is relatively small. Overall, females demonstrated higher anxiety and avoidance than males, with substantial between-study heterogeneity. Sex differences were largest in community samples, with higher avoidance and lower anxiety in males. There were smaller sex differences in college student samples, with higher anxiety and avoidance in females. The degree of sex differences also varied across geographical regions, with high-stress and high-fertility reproductive environments showing smaller sex differences in general and larger sex differences in extreme conditions. Sex differences in anxiety increased linearly with age, whereas those in avoidance remained unchanged. The results support evolutionary perspectives of sex differences in romantic attachment, which assume that the average sex differences in romantic attachment styles should be relatively small in most populations, and many possible factors might moderate such differences. The heterogeneity and limitations of the current findings and directions for future research on sex differences in romantic attachment are discussed

Anxiety · Attachment theory · Developmental psychology · Fertility · Meta-analysis · Population · Romance · Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Demography · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Marriage and Sexual Relationships · Medicine · Psychology

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