Attachment styles and close relationship beliefs as predictors of commitment in romantic relationships

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Tezin Türü: Doktora

Tezin Yürütüldüğü Kurum: Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi, Eğitim Fakültesi, Eğitim Bilimleri Bölümü, Türkiye

Tezin Onay Tarihi: 2016

Öğrenci: CEYDA ÖZTEKİN

Danışman: ESİN TEZER

Özet:

The present study investigated the role of attachment and close relationship beliefs in predicting commitment in romantic relationships. The participants were volunteered university students from different faculties of Middle East Technical University (n = 485). The data were collected by administering Experiences in Close Relationships Scale-Revised, Close Relationship Belief Scale and the Revised Commitment Inventory. Two separate pilot studies were conducted to carry out the adaptation studies of Close Relationship Belief Scale (n = 385) and the Revised Commitment Inventory (n = 263). Results of the path analysis revealed that the proposed predictors explained the 47% of the variance in commitment in romantic relationships. Intimacy belief was the strongest predictor of commitment followed by the attachment avoidance. Attachment avoidance had a direct significant negative effect on commitment while the direct effect of anxiety was not significant. The indirect effect of attachment anxiety on commitment was significant and positive via close relationship beliefs although its direct effect on commitment was negative and non-significant. And three of the close relationship beliefs; namely, intimacy, individuality, and passion, mediated the relationship between attachment avoidance and commitment. Findings of the study are discussed in the light of the attachment, relationship beliefs and commitment literature.