Communication, relationship satisfaction, attachment and physical/psychological symptoms: the mediating role of loneliness

Abstract

Background: Loneliness in close relationships impacts the well-being of partners. The present chapter presents data on loneliness in romantic relationships among emerging adults. Conceptualizations of loneliness are outlined followed by the relationships among loneliness, attachment, relationship satisfaction and communication between partners. As few studies have examined how these concepts are related and, to date, no research has studied how loneliness mediated between relationship variables and physical and psychological symptoms, in young adults, involved in romantic relationships, a study focused on those relationships is also presented and its implications for practice, discussed. Methods: 210 college undergraduate students involved in a romantic relationship participated in the study. Students were participating in a program to promote couple relationship education. Data was collected before starting a program (T1) and 7 weeks after it began (T2). Instruments used were: Short-form UCLA Loneliness scale (ULS-8), (Hays & DiMatteo, 1987); Relationship Satisfaction Scale (Funk & Rogge, 2007); Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (ECR)-short form (Wei, Russell, Mallinckrodt, & Vogel, 2007), Communication Patterns Questionnaire (Christensen, 1988), Rotterdam Symptom Checklist (De Haes, et al., 2012). Results: There were significant differences on communication (p≤ .001) and anxiety attachment (p=.008) between T2 and T1. Considering the predictor variables at T1, loneliness mediated the relationships between avoidance attachment and physical (mediating effect = .043) and psychological symptoms (mediator effect = .061) and the relationship between anxiety attachment and physical (mediator effect = .109) and psychological symptoms (mediator effect=.153). Considering the predictor variables at T2, loneliness mediated the relationship between relationship satisfaction and physical (mediating effect = -. 051) and psychological symptoms (mediator effect = -. 072) and the relationship between anxiety attachment and physical (mediator effect = .105) and psychological symptoms (mediator effect=.147). Conclusion: The results highlight the importance of loneliness for physical and psychological symptoms emphasizing the important role of attachment, in intervention programs.