The DOI matches its Crossref record; 33 of the 36 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Couple conflict: insights from an attachment perspective
Open accessAbstract
The experience of conflict is often cited as a highly stressful relational phenomenon by romantic couples, and can have negative implications for relationship satisfaction and for the longevity of romantic relationships. In this paper, we review extant research on couple conflict in romantic relationships from an attachment theory perspective. The research we review is underpinned by two central tenets: firstly, severe or persistent conflict activates the attachment system; secondly, responses to couple conflict involve complex attachment dynamics, shaped by partners' attachment anxiety and avoidance. The research reviewed has important implications for both research and practice in the area of couple conflict, and clearly demonstrates how conflict can act as a stressor that shapes relationship functioning.
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In the citing paper
“Relational conflicts are more common and more severe for anxious people.”
From The Predictive Role of Self-Esteem, Attachment Styles, and Family of Origin Functions in Explaining Conflict Resolution in Romantic Relationships (2022) · cites this paper as Feeney & Karantzas, 2017
In the citing paper
“People with anxious attachment styles tend to ignore their partner's needs and force them to give more attention to themselves.”
From The Predictive Role of Self-Esteem, Attachment Styles, and Family of Origin Functions in Explaining Conflict Resolution in Romantic Relationships (2022) · cites this paper as Feeney & Karantzas, 2017
In the citing paper
“People with avoidant attachment styles tend to become distant in their romantic relationships, especially during conflicts, and they tend to ignore their partners and reduce their intimacy with them (Hazan & Shaver, 1987; Feeney & Karantzas, 2017).”
From The Predictive Role of Self-Esteem, Attachment Styles, and Family of Origin Functions in Explaining Conflict Resolution in Romantic Relationships (2022) · cites this paper as Feeney & Karantzas, 2017
In the citing paper
“Feeney and Karantzas (2017) stated that anxious individuals use negative conflict resolution style while avoidant individuals use retreat style.”
From The Predictive Role of Self-Esteem, Attachment Styles, and Family of Origin Functions in Explaining Conflict Resolution in Romantic Relationships (2022) · cites this paper as Feeney and Karantzas (2017)
In the citing paper
“Attachment insecurity has been associated with negative behaviors during conflict and decreased relationship satisfaction.”
In the citing paper
“This replicates past patterns of attachment insecurity predicting more negative conflict behaviors [14,15,16,17].”
Citations
Cites
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Mikulincer, M., & Shaver, P. R. (2003) · Advances in Experimental Social Psychology · doi:10.1016/s0065-2601(03)01002-5 · Cited by 1,485
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Mota, C. P., Martins, C., & Santos, B. (2023) · Actualidades en Psicología · doi:10.15517/ap.v37i134.45294 · Cited by 1
Attachment style and distress in couples experiencing sexual desire discrepancy
Muise, M. D., Bockaj, A., O’Sullivan, L. F., & Ronis, S. T. (2024) · The Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality · doi:10.3138/cjhs-2023-0011 · Cited by 2
Ahmadpour, A. (2024) · Journal of Woman Cultural Psychology روان شناسی فرهنگی زن · doi:10.61186/iau.1129147
Chesterman, S., Karantzas, G. C., Aloni, J., & Wilmot, P. (2024) · Social Psychology · doi:10.1027/1864-9335/a000551
Self-citationGagliardi, M., & Congia, P. (2025) · Psychology International · doi:10.3390/psycholint7010019
Morgan, S. D., & Woodin, E. M. (2025) · Family Process · doi:10.1111/famp.70057
Effects of attachment styles and Dark Tetrad traits on breakup strategies
Grabovac, B., Šakotić-Kurbalija, J., Grdinić, J., & Dinić, B. M. (2025) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2025.113420
Experiences relating to intimacy, romance, and sexuality in early psychosis
Woolridge, S. M., Hau, I., Wilkinson, E., Stewart, C. A., Edirisinghe, S., Aidelbaum, R., Best, M. W., & Bowie, C. R. (2025) · Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology · doi:10.1007/s00127-025-03002-2
Seedall, R. B., Johnson, J. J., Covill, H. K., Gardner, C. M., & Jugganaikloo, L. (2025) · Family Process · doi:10.1111/famp.70088
Pedneault, L., Bigras, N., Popova, N., Brassard, A., & Bergeron, S. (2025) · Journal of Social and Personal Relationships · doi:10.1177/02654075251396185
Doddoli, A. B. (2025) · Universitas Psychologica · doi:10.11144/javeriana.upsy24.rfta
Iverson, K. M., Seedall, R. B., & Covill, H. K. (2025) · Contemporary Family Therapy · doi:10.1007/s10591-025-09771-x
Chen, W., & Zhang, L. R. (2025) · International Journal of Psychology · doi:10.1002/ijop.70148
Adaptation and Validation of the Couple Resilience Inventory (CRI) in a Portuguese sample
Grané-Morcillo, J., Costa-Ramalho, S., Donato, S., Parise, M., Pérez-Testor, C., & Vall, B. (2026) · European Journal of Psychology Open · doi:10.1024/2673-8627/a000096
Silent Separation: An Analysis of Emotional Divorce among Married Palestinian Women
Hamamra, B. T., & Uebel, M. (2026) · The Family Journal · doi:10.1177/10664807261440839
Thomas, J. J., Growney, C. M., & English, T. (2026) · The Journals of Gerontology Series B · doi:10.1093/geronb/gbag102
Molyneux, E., Broadbear, J. H., Rao, S., Kasiviswanathan, K., Zafir, S., Knight, T., & Mildred, H. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2026.1807149
Mildenhall, A., Núñez, M. L., & Yorgason, J. B. (2026) · Family Relations · doi:10.1111/fare.70260
Nascimento, B. D. S., Shishane, K., Adair, L., Ferenczi, N., Cao, X., Ackah, M. A. A., & May, M. (2026) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs16081388
Attachment in Psychotherapy: A Behavioral Approach and Clinical Implications
Elvira, A. C., Pereira, G.-L., Andrés-López, N., & Muñoz-Martínez, A. (2026) · Behavior and Social Issues · doi:10.1007/s42822-026-00265-5
Samii, J., Vafeiadou, A., Rowe, A., Kent, C., & Banissy, M. J. (2026) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0356812
Adult attachment and hypersexuality: links to couple and sexual satisfaction in a Mexican sample
Cruz, D. M., Ávila-Chauvet, L., & Villalobos-Gallegos, L. (2026) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2026.1911233
Metadata
- Authors
- Feeney, J. A., & Karantzas, G. C.
- Affiliations
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- Deakin University (AU)
- Corresponding author
- Feeney, Judith A
- ORCID
- Karantzas, Gery C
- Venue
- Current Opinion in Psychology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-02
- Volume
- 13
- Pages
- 60-64
- ISSN
- 2352-250X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2346511883
- Cited by
- 123
- References
- 36
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 18 · 2024: 19 · 2023: 13 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 12 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 0.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- figshare.com
- Licence
- Locations
- Current Opinion in Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Own your potential (DEAKIN) (submittedVersion)
- Figshare (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Demography › Family Dynamics and Relationships
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Marriage and Sexual Relationships
- Keywords
- couple conflict, romantic relationships, attachment theory, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, relationship stress, relationship satisfaction, relationship longevity
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