Cited by 441Attachment and Relationship DynamicsEvolutionary Psychology and Human BehaviorPersonality Traits and Psychology

Sex Differences in Romantic Attachment: A Meta-Analysis

Del Giudice, Marco·2011·Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin

Abstract

This article presents the first meta-analysis of sex differences in the avoidance and anxiety dimensions of adult romantic attachment, based on 113 samples (N = 66,132) from 100 studies employing two-dimensional romantic attachment questionnaires (Experiences in Close Relationships, Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised, and Adult Attachment Questionnaire). Overall, males showed higher avoidance and lower anxiety than females, with substantial between-study heterogeneity. Sex differences were much larger in community samples (bivariate D = .28) than in college samples (D = .12); web-based studies showed the smallest sex differences (D = .07) in the opposite direction. Sex differences also varied across geographic regions (overall Ds = .10 to .34). Sex differences in anxiety peaked in young adulthood, whereas those in avoidance increased through the life course. The relevance of these findings for evolutionary models of romantic attachment is discussed, and possible factors leading to underestimation of sex differences are reviewed.

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Crossref · 10.1177/0146167210392789

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Authors
Del Giudice, M.
Affiliations
University of Turin, Torino, Italy,
Venue
Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Published
2011-01-14
Volume
37
Issue
2
Pages
193-214
ISSN
  • 0146-1672 (ISSN-L)
  • 1552-7433
OpenAlex
W2131783775
Cited by
441
References
146
Citations by year
2026: 22 · 2025: 19 · 2024: 21 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 35 · 2021: 32 · 2020: 70 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 29 · 2017: 25 · 2016: 36 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 32 · 2012: 14
FWCI
2.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • ArTS Archivio della ricerca di Trieste (University of Trieste https://www.units.it/) (submittedVersion)
  • Institutional Research Information System University of Turin (University of Turin) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
Keywords
sex differences, romantic attachment, attachment avoidance, attachment anxiety, adult attachment, Experiences in Close Relationships, life course, regional variation
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Age Factors, Anxiety, Female, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Love, Male, Middle Aged, Models, Psychological, Object Attachment, Personality Disorders, Psychological Tests, Psychometrics, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sex Factors, Young Adult

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