The relationship between fear of intimacy and marital satisfaction in a sample of Iranian couples: moderating role of attachment styles

Marital satisfaction is considered as one of the determinant factors of mental health and life satisfaction within couple's relationship. Can attachment styles and fear of intimacy have an influence on couple's marital satisfaction? In response to this question, the present study was designed to investigate the moderating role of attachment styles in the relationship of fear of intimacy with marital satisfaction. All participants (237 males, 277 females) were asked to complete the Adult Attach-ment Inventory (AAI), Fear of Intimacy Scale (FIS), and Glombok-Rust Inventory of Marital State Questionnaire (GRIMS). The results showed that fear of intimacy had a significant negative correlation with marital satisfaction, whereas secure attach-ment had a significant positive correlation with marital satisfaction and insecure attachment styles had significant negative correlations with marital satisfaction. Results of regression analysis indicated that secure, avoidant, and ambivalent attachment styles had moderating effects on the relationship between fear of intimacy and marital satisfaction. Secure and insecure internal working models provide intrapersonal and interpersonal components of intimacy or fear of intimacy in relation with others. These are developed through basic positive or negative schemas and attitudes towards mother first and towards important others later in life. It is concluded that the relationship between fear of intimacy and marital satisfaction is not a simple linear association but it is influenced by attach-ment styles.