The predictive role of insecure attachment styles on relationship centered and partner focused obsessive compulsive symptoms: The mediator role of relationship satisfaction and intention of infidelity

The present study aims to examine the relationships between insecure attachment styles (IAS), relationship satisfaction (RS), intention of infidelity (IOI), relationship centered (RCOCS) and partner focused obsessive compulsive symptoms (PFOCS). In line with this aim, path analysis was conducted to examine the mediational role of RS and IOI between the relationship of IAS and RCOCS and PFOCS. According to the secondary aim of the study the differences of gender and relationship status on RCOCS, PFCOS, and their dimensions are investigated. Also, correlations between the measures of study, age and relationship duration were inspected. The sample of the research consists of 317 (209 female and 108 male) participants whose age ranged from 18 to 65. The participants firstly signed the informed consent, then completed the Demographic Information Questionnaire, Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised Scale, Relationship Assessment Scale, The Intentions Towards Infidelity Scale, Relationship Obsessive Compulsive Inventory and Partner Related Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms Inventory. Since COVID-19 Pandemic was first announced in Turkey during the data gathering process, scores of relationship centered and partner focused obsessive compulsive symptoms of participants who were enrolled in the study before and after the announcement are compared with each other and no significant difference was found. Also, no significant difference in scores of RCOCS and PFOCS in terms of gender, or interaction of gender and relationship status was found, but there is a significant difference between the constructs in terms of relationship status. In addition, there is a significant difference of relationship status on Being Loved by the Partner, Relationship "Rightness", Morality, Sociability, Emotional Stability, Competence, Intelligence dimensions but not on Love for the Partner or Physical Appearance dimensions. Additionally, there is a significant interaction effect of gender and relationship status on Relationship "Rightness" dimension. In terms of gender, there is only a significant difference on Physical Appearance dimension. Path analysis results show that insecure attachment predicts relationship satisfaction negatively; and predicts intention of infidelity, RCOCS and PFOCS positively. Also, relationship satisfaction negatively predicts RCOCS and PFOCS, whereas intention of infidelity positively predicts PFOCS but not RCOCS. Finally, the results of path analysis revealed the mediational role of relationship satisfaction and intention of infidelity in the relationship between insecure attachment styles and relationship centered obsessive compulsive symptoms and also partner focused obsessive compulsive symptoms.