This study examined the mediating role of romantic perfectionism in the associations linking romantic attachment insecurity and self-perceived dyadic coping in a community sample of 170 mixed-sex couples. Path analyses, based on the actor-partner interdependence model, revealed that other-oriented perfectionism in men and women mediated the link between their own attachment-related avoidance and dyadic coping. Other-oriented perfectionism in women mediated the link between their own attachment-related anxiety and dyadic coping. Findings contribute to advancing knowledge about the intrapersonal and interpersonal mechanisms underlying coping processes in couples. Results also inform clinical interventions targeting attachment insecurities and perfectionism in the context of romantic relationships.

The present study examined the relationship between dyadic interaction patterns and implicit theories of relationships (ITRs; deeply held beliefs about the nature of relationships) using a sample of N = 104 couples. We hypothesised that destiny beliefs would predict greater avoidance in conflict interactions, while growth beliefs would predict more constructive communication. Surprisingly, the results of the current study challenge the existing literature by indicating that neither destiny nor growth beliefs predict constructive communication or mutual avoidance for the couple. Further, while destiny beliefs were related to increased withdrawal in a demand-withdraw pattern, growth beliefs related to both demand and withdraw in a demand-withdraw pattern. These findings suggest that assessing the relationship between ITRs and communication patterns at the couple level introduces complexity that is underexplored in the current literature on implicit theories of relationships.

Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households, an actor-partner interdependence model explored change in the frequency of disagreements and marital outcomes among 796 paired couples, early in marriage. Disagreements about money, time spent together, and the sexual relationship increased over 5 years. Money disagreements predicted disagreements about time and sex for husbands. Spillover findings showed disagreements about money and sex were related negatively to marital satisfaction. Disagreements in all three areas predicted marital instability for husbands, although only disagreements about money and time predicted marital instability for wives. Crossover findings showed husbands’ disagreements about money to be related negatively to wives’ marital satisfaction. Implications of the current findings are discussed.

The current study addressed whether attachment, rumination, and trait depression were predictive of co-rumination in dyadic friendships. The final sample consisted of 205 pairs of same-sex friends (Mage = 18.93 years, SD = 1.31) and 135 (66%) of the dyads were female. Results revealed that an individual's attachment avoidance was significantly related to their own (actor effect) and their friend's (partner effect) co-rumination. Gender moderated the (1) effect of attachment avoidance on co-rumination at the actor and partner levels and (2) effect of attachment anxiety on co-rumination at the partner level. Furthermore, an interaction emerged between friendship duration and trait depression on co-rumination at the actor level. Considering the adjustment trade-offs of co-rumination (e.g., closer friendship quality accompanied with greater levels of depression and anxiety), it is important to understand the predictors of co-rumination and the consequences of it in order to effectively apply intervention efforts.