Attachment Theory and Reasons Not to Marry Among Emerging Adults

Abstract

Using attachment theory, I examined reasons for not marrying, including doubts about the self and doubts about the partner, among emerging adults (N = 89; age range 18‐25). To explain these reasons for not marrying, I used attachment theory to examine attachment dimensions: avoidance (positive view of self; negative view of others) and anxiety (negative view of self; positive view of others). Also from attachment theory, I examined reports of parental divorce, given its associations with relational struggles. I hypothesized that individuals: 1) higher on anxiety will have more reasons not to marry based on doubts about self, whereas individuals higher on avoidance will have more reasons not to marry based on doubts about their partner and; 2) experiencing parental divorce will have more overall reasons not to marry than individuals not reporting parental divorce. Using proc mixed and a t‐test to examine each hypothesis respectively, I found that neither hypothesis was supported. I conclude that attachment dimensions during emerging adulthood are not associated with marital behaviors at this life stage. Further, parental divorce is not associated with reasons not to marry, likely given unequal sample sizes (n = 20 reported parental divorce; n = 69 reported no parental divorce).