Adult attachment style and relationship satisfaction during the postnatal period: A systematic review

Positive partner associations support parental wellbeing. Partner relationship satisfaction, however, often deteriorates postnatally. The Attachment Diathesis-Stress Model suggests that attachment insecurity is linked to distress and interpersonal issues. This systematic review synthesised quantitative and qualitative research focusing on the relationship between attachment orientations and relationship satisfaction in the postnatal period. Study participants had to be biological parents of a child under the age of two. After systematically searching CINAHL, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES and Web of Science, seven articles were identified for review. Results were screened according to the inclusion criteria, methodological quality was assessed, and data were extracted and presented in a narrative synthesis. All studies reported some form of negative relationship between insecure attachment style and relationship satisfaction following the birth of a baby. A majority of studies also reported that higher attachment anxiety and avoidance scores were related to lower postnatal relationship satisfaction. In the studies examining partner effects, higher attachment anxiety or avoidance also showed a negative correlation with partners’ postnatal relationship satisfaction. Ongoing research is necessary as further understanding of the mechanism of action between attachment insecurity and relationship satisfaction in the postnatal period is required. Findings can inform interventions to support parents in the perinatal period, considering insecure attachment style as a vulnerability factor.