When Collaborating in Constructive Task With Spouse: Attachment Orientation Predicts Exploratory Behavior Among Older Couples
In order to examine the function of the attachment system in later life, this study investigated the relationships between attachment orientation and exploratory behavior in a collaborative constructive activity with one’s spouse among older adults. In total, 49 older couples completed a collaborati...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-06-01
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doaj-a2db52492e5d4ed4b0d17589226267302021-06-16T10:10:07ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Psychology1664-10782021-06-011210.3389/fpsyg.2021.628412628412When Collaborating in Constructive Task With Spouse: Attachment Orientation Predicts Exploratory Behavior Among Older CouplesYan Wang0Xiancai Cao1Xiancai Cao2Xiancai Cao3Fengzhan Li4Dahua Wang5Faculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaKey Research Base of Humanities and Social Sciences of the Ministry of Education, Academy of Psychology and Behavior, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, ChinaFaculty of Psychology, Tianjin Normal University, Tianjin, ChinaTianjin Social Science Laboratory of Students’ Mental Development and Learning, Tianjin, ChinaDepartment of Military Medical Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi’an, ChinaFaculty of Psychology, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, ChinaIn order to examine the function of the attachment system in later life, this study investigated the relationships between attachment orientation and exploratory behavior in a collaborative constructive activity with one’s spouse among older adults. In total, 49 older couples completed a collaborative constructive task, and their behaviors were videotaped. Each participant’s exploratory behavior (i.e., engagement, enjoyment, and distress) was coded by independent raters. The results revealed older adults highly engaged in the collaborative activity. In addition, based on the actor-partner interdependence model, the results indicated that attachment avoidance positively predicted the individuals’ enjoyment as well as their partners’ distress during the collaborative activity. The current findings extend the literature regarding the effects of attachment on exploration from early adulthood to later life, from the workplace to family life, and from individual’s own behavior to collaborative situation.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.628412/fullattachmentexplorationactor-partner independence modelavoidanceolder adults |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Yan Wang Xiancai Cao Xiancai Cao Xiancai Cao Fengzhan Li Dahua Wang |
spellingShingle |
Yan Wang Xiancai Cao Xiancai Cao Xiancai Cao Fengzhan Li Dahua Wang When Collaborating in Constructive Task With Spouse: Attachment Orientation Predicts Exploratory Behavior Among Older Couples Frontiers in Psychology attachment exploration actor-partner independence model avoidance older adults |
author_facet |
Yan Wang Xiancai Cao Xiancai Cao Xiancai Cao Fengzhan Li Dahua Wang |
author_sort |
Yan Wang |
title |
When Collaborating in Constructive Task With Spouse: Attachment Orientation Predicts Exploratory Behavior Among Older Couples |
title_short |
When Collaborating in Constructive Task With Spouse: Attachment Orientation Predicts Exploratory Behavior Among Older Couples |
title_full |
When Collaborating in Constructive Task With Spouse: Attachment Orientation Predicts Exploratory Behavior Among Older Couples |
title_fullStr |
When Collaborating in Constructive Task With Spouse: Attachment Orientation Predicts Exploratory Behavior Among Older Couples |
title_full_unstemmed |
When Collaborating in Constructive Task With Spouse: Attachment Orientation Predicts Exploratory Behavior Among Older Couples |
title_sort |
when collaborating in constructive task with spouse: attachment orientation predicts exploratory behavior among older couples |
publisher |
Frontiers Media S.A. |
series |
Frontiers in Psychology |
issn |
1664-1078 |
publishDate |
2021-06-01 |
description |
In order to examine the function of the attachment system in later life, this study investigated the relationships between attachment orientation and exploratory behavior in a collaborative constructive activity with one’s spouse among older adults. In total, 49 older couples completed a collaborative constructive task, and their behaviors were videotaped. Each participant’s exploratory behavior (i.e., engagement, enjoyment, and distress) was coded by independent raters. The results revealed older adults highly engaged in the collaborative activity. In addition, based on the actor-partner interdependence model, the results indicated that attachment avoidance positively predicted the individuals’ enjoyment as well as their partners’ distress during the collaborative activity. The current findings extend the literature regarding the effects of attachment on exploration from early adulthood to later life, from the workplace to family life, and from individual’s own behavior to collaborative situation. |
topic |
attachment exploration actor-partner independence model avoidance older adults |
url |
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.628412/full |
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