Predicting relationship satisfaction: dark triad personality traits, love attitudes, attachment dimensions

The present study aimed to investigate the role of dark triad personality traits (narcissism, Machiavellianism and psychopathy), love attitudes and attachment dimensions (attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) on relationship satisfaction. The sample of the study composed of 336 (131 males, 205 female) university students with an age range between 19 to 43 years. The participants completed Experiences in Close Relationships Scale-Revised, Relationship Assessment Scale, Short Dark Triad Questionnaire, and Love Attitudes Scale. Regression analyses were conducted in order to find out the predictors of relationship satisfaction. Results showed that psychopathy, attachment anxiety, and ludus love style negatively predicted relationship satisfaction, whereas attachment avoidance positively predicted relationship satisfaction. Regression analysis suggested that there might be potential mediators, therefore a path analysis was performed to test the proposed model and to examine the associations between dark triad personality characteristics and relationship satisfaction via attachment dimensions and love attitudes. Results revealed significant pathways. Machiavellianism was found to be positive predictor of attachment anxiety, which in turn predicted increased ludus and lessened relationship satisfaction. Results also revealed that narcissism was inversely associated with attachment anxiety; in turn it predicted ludus and relationship satisfaction, respectively. The results were discussed in terms of potential limitations and importance for future research. Keywords: Relationship Satisfaction, Dark Triad, Attachment anxiety, Attachment avoidance, Love Styles, Love Attitudes