- Attachment avoidance and anxiety were each associated with lower intimate relationship satisfaction among Chinese college students.
- Perceived partner responsiveness mediated these associations; anxiety's effect on satisfaction was largely indirect through PPR.
- Avoidance retained a direct effect on satisfaction beyond PPR, indicating distinct relational patterns and highlighting PPR's salience in young adulthood.
Front Psychol. 2026 Oct 19;17:1880927. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1880927. eCollection 2026.
ABSTRACT
Previous research has established that insecure attachment is negatively associated with intimate relationship satisfaction. However, the psychological mechanisms underlying these associations, particularly in young adults, warrant further investigation. Guided by attachment theory, the present study investigated the mediating role of perceived partner responsiveness (PPR) in the relationship between adult attachment dimensions (avoidance and anxiety) and intimate relationship satisfaction among Chinese college students. In a cross-sectional design, 404 college students currently involved in romantic relationships completed online questionnaires assessing attachment styles, PPR, and relationship satisfaction. Attachment avoidance and anxiety were examined simultaneously to estimate their unique associations while accounting for their shared variance. The findings suggest distinct relational patterns for the two attachment dimensions among young adults: PPR accounted for only part of the association between avoidance and relationship satisfaction, whereas the unique association involving anxiety was primarily indirect through PPR. Future research could compare different developmental stages to examine whether perceived partner responsiveness is particularly salient for relationship satisfaction during young adulthood.
PMID:42973472 | PMC:PMC13724380 | DOI:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1880927
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