The relationship between attachment styles of unmarried adults and their marriage attitudes and marriage anxiety

This study aims to examine the relationship between attachment styles of unmarried adults and their marital attitudes and marital anxiety. It is well-known that the bond developed between an infant and their primary caregiver over time influences relationships established during adulthood. Depending on the type of attachment style, an adult's anxiety and attitude toward marriage may vary. The study sample consisted of 333 unmarried adults aged 18–45, who participated voluntarily through an online platform. This research utilized the correlational survey model, one of the quantitative research methods. The study instruments included a sociodemographic form, the Three-Dimensional Attachment Styles Scale, the Marital Anxiety Scale, and the İnönü Marital Attitude Scale, all of which were administered to participants. Data were analyzed using the IBM SPSS Statistics Standard Concurrent User V 26 software package. The Independent Samples t-test was used to compare two groups, while Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was employed for comparisons involving variables with more than two categories. For significant results in variance analysis, post hoc comparisons were conducted using the Bonferroni test. Relationships between numerical variables were examined using Pearson correlation coefficients. According to the research findings, there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between avoidant attachment and anxious-ambivalent attachment dimensions and the total score of marital anxiety. In contrast, a negative and statistically significant relationship exists between the secure attachment dimension and the total score of marital anxiety. When marital anxiety and marital attitudes were evaluated together, significant relationships were found with anxious-ambivalent attachment and secure attachment. Furthermore, when marital anxiety and marital attitudes were analyzed jointly, it was concluded that there is a positive and statistically significant relationship between avoidant attachment and marital anxiety, whereas no significant relationship was found with marital attitudes. A negative, statistically significant relationship was identified between marital attitudes and marital anxiety.