Examining the relationships between university students' relationship maintenance strategies, attachment styles, romantic relationship satisfaction and self-efficacy in romantic relationship

The aim of this study is to examining the relationships between university students' relationship maintenance strategies, attachment styles, romantic relationship satisfaction and self-efficacy in romantic relationships. Another aim of this research is to examine the relationship between sub-dimensions of relationship maintenance strategies, attachment styles, romantic relationship satisfaction, and self-efficacy in romantic relationships. In addition; It was also investigated whether the strategies for maintaining relationships, attachment styles, romantic relationship satisfaction and self-efficacy scores in romantic relationships differ significantly according to gender, relationship duration and marriage status of the family of origin. The study group of the research consists of 406 university students, 260 (64%) female and 146 (36%) male, studying in various faculties and departments of Dokuz Eylül University in the 2020-2021 academic year. In the research, "Relationship Maintenance Strategies Scale", "Relationship Scales Questionnaire", "Romantic Relationship Satisfaction Scale", "Self-Efficacy in Romantic Relationships Scale" and "Personal Information Form" were used as data collection tools. In the analysis of the data, t-test, Pearson correlation analysis and stepwise analysis techniques were used by using the SPSS 24.0 package program. As a result of the research, it was found that relationship maintenance strategies, social networks and sharing tasks differed significantly by gender; It was determined that positivity, openness, assurances, attachment styles, romantic relationship satisfaction and self-efficacy in romantic relationships did not differ significantly according to gender. Relationship maintenance strategies and their sub-dimensions, secure attachment style, dismissive attachment style, fearful attachment style, romantic relationship satisfaction and self-efficacy in romantic relationships show significant differences according to the duration of the relationship; It was determined that the preoccupied attachment style did not show a significant difference according to the duration of the relationship. In addition, it was determined that relationship maintenance strategies and sub-dimensions of relationship maintenance strategies, attachment styles, romantic relationship satisfaction and self-efficacy in romantic relationships did not differ significantly according to the family of origin marital status. The findings revealed that the variables of romantic relationship satisfaction and self-efficacy in romantic relationships were significant predictors of relationship maintenance strategies, and these variables explained 53.3% of the total variance in relationship maintenance strategies. In addition, the variables of romantic relationship satisfaction and romantic relationship self-efficacy; It was determined that it explained 55.4% of the total variance for positivity, 44% of the total variance for openness, 40.9% of the total variance for assurances, and 37.7% of the total variance for social networks. On the other hand, the variables of romantic relationship satisfaction and secure attachment style; It was determined that the sharing of tasks were significant predictors, explaining 15.7% of the total variance regarding the sharing of tasks. The findings obtained within the scope of the research were discussed in the relevant literature, and suggestions for research and practice were presented. Keywords: Relationship maintenance strategies, attachment styles, romantic relationship satisfaction, self-efficacy in romantic relationships.