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

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Sex Differences in Romantic Attachment: A Meta-Analysis

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

DOI 10.1177/0146167210392789

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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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Authors: Del Giudice, M.
Affiliations: University of Turin, Torino, Italy,
Venue: Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2011-01-14
Volume: 37
Issue: 2
Pages: 193-214
ISSN: 0146-1672 (ISSN-L)
1552-7433
DOI: 10.1177/0146167210392789
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
Licence: journals.sagepub.com/page/policies/text-and-data-mining-license (tdm)
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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Sex Differences in Romantic Attachment: A Meta-Analysis

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