A review of attachment styles, relationship satisfaction, and conflict resolution styles in adult individuals

Abstract

This study is a conceptual review that aims to examine the relationships between attachment styles, relationship satisfaction, and conflict resolution styles in adults by synthesizing the existing theoretical and empirical literature, and to reveal the conceptual links among these variables. The starting point of this review is the observation that although romantic relationships often begin with expectations of continuity and happiness, the ability to maintain a relationship in a healthy manner largely depends on the level of satisfaction derived from the relationship. This article discusses the fundamental concepts of attachment theory, including Bowlby’s notion of attachment figures and Ainsworth’s classification of secure, anxious-ambivalent, and avoidant attachment styles. In addition, it addresses the adaptation of adult attachment theory to romantic relationships through the models proposed by Hazan and Shaver, as well as the four-category model developed by Bartholomew and Horowitz, and examines how these models influence relationship satisfaction and conflict processes. Furthermore, the theoretical foundations of relationship satisfaction, such as Social Exchange Theory, the Investment Model, and responses to dissatisfaction, are reviewed alongside the potential costs of conflict avoidance for relationship functioning. The conclusion of this study suggests that secure attachment is associated with higher levels of trust, more constructive coping strategies, and greater relationship satisfaction, whereas anxious and avoidant attachment patterns tend to be linked to more fragile satisfaction and more problematic communication and conflict dynamics.