Fear of intimacy among couples: dyadic and mediating effects of parental inhibition of exploration and individuality and partner attachment

Abstract

This study tests a dyadic model in which parental attachment recollected from adolescence [namely, the dimension of inhibition of exploration and individuality (IEI)] would predict fear of intimacy through the mediating role of adult romantic attachment (avoidance and attachment). Data were collected from 249 romantic couples in a relationship for more than 2 years. After controlling for age and relationship status, we found a partner-anxiety effect on female fear of intimacy (namely, female fear of losing the self). For both males and females, romantic attachment relates to fear of intimacy. An indirect effect of IEI-mother on fear of intimacy via romantic attachment was yet found for females.

Keywords:

• fear of intimacy
• attachment
• inhibition of exploration and individuality
• APIMeM
• romantic partners

Notes

1. Although the model failed to achieve the cut-off point recommended by Hu and Bentler (1999) on one of the fit indices (the model presented CFI = .904 rather than CFI > .950), this index, along with the remaining indices of good fit that were presented, is considered adequate (Hu & Bentler, 1999).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology [SFRH/BD/60287/2009];