The role of romantic attachment and self-criticism and dependency for the relationship satisfaction of community adults

This article aims to investigate the role of romantic attachment versus the personality dimensions related to self-definition and relatedness for relationship satisfaction. Self-report instruments measuring romantic attachment, self-criticism and dependency, severity of depression, negative life events and relationship satisfaction were administrated to 266 community adults. As expected, results showed that secure romantic attachment was positively and insecure romantic attachment was negatively associated with relationship satisfaction, and this was the case even when controlling for self-criticism and dependency, severity of depression and negative life events. Implications of these findings for couple therapy are discussed.