Patterns of Attachment and Responses to Accommodative Dilemmas among Interethnic/Interracial Couples

Abstract

In the present study, partners from 103 heterosexual inter-ethnic/interracial couples (103 men and 103 women) completed categorical measures of attachment style and continuous measures of responses to accommodative dilemmas. Consistent with hypotheses, there was a significantly higher proportion of secure over insecure individuals among both sexes. Further, the difference between secure and insecure individuals’ accommodative tendencies was greater for destructive responses than for constructive responses (significant among men, marginally significant among women). However, contrary to hypotheses, attachment style per sewas not a significant predictor of accommodation responses among either sex. Implications for the study of interethnic/interracial romantic relationships are discussed.