Coregulation in Romantic Partners' Attachment Styles: A Longitudinal Investigation.
Level 3 - non-randomized controlled study
Prospective longitudinal cohort study
PubMed 24743602 · doi:10.1177/0146167214528989
What was done
A longitudinal study examined the coregulation of partner-specific attachment security in 172 couples assessed 5 times over a 1-year period. At each wave, partners independently completed self-report measures of relationship security. Coregulation was operationalized as prospective direct impacts of one partner on the other and coordination (correlated changes across time).
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, effect sizes, or confidence intervals. It states that after accounting for prototypical security levels, changes in security were coordinated within couples.
Why it matters
It provides longitudinal evidence that changes in adult attachment security are correlated and co-occur between partners in romantic relationships.
Limits
The abstract reports no numerical data, effect sizes, or participant demographic characteristics. The study relies entirely on subjective self-report measures and observational tracking, precluding causal conclusions.