Romantic Attachment Styles amongst Emerging Adults in Osogbo Metropolis, Nigeria: The Roles of Family Communication Patterns and Parental Warmth

Abstract

Establishing stable romantic relationships is one of the major developmental tasks of emerging adults. Several ways exist in which people act when they are in a relationship or trying to establish stable relations with friends and significant others. These actions can be linked to their attachment styles, which are internal working models that have substantial influence on the success of their partnerships or relationships. Attachment is a deep, loving bond we have with special people in our life that causes us to feel joy when we connect with them and are reassured by their proximity in times of stress and it is developed from family environment and relationship with caregiver in childhood. Romantic attachment which is informed by childhood attachment consists of two dimensions: avoidance of intimacy, which is a general belief that others are unreliable and untrustworthy, and anxiety where concerns about abandonment, or general views that others could leave anytime, hence, believing that one is not loved, is the case. A romantic attachment that is characterized by low feelings of avoidance and anxiety is secure. A secure attachment style could promote more intimacy and emotional availability. In Nigeria, especially in Osogbo, insecure attachment style has been observed to affect a lot of romantic relationships, including marital relationships and not just relationships, but the personalities. Individuals feel anxious and unsure about the love of their partners. Hitherto, not many studies have investigated the effects of family communication patterns and parental warmth on romantic attachment styles amongst emerging adults in Nigeria. This study therefore examined the dynamics of the relationships of these variables among corps members in Osogbo Metropolis, of Osun State. Using purposive and convenient sampling technique, 383 respondents including 237 females and 146 males responded to the questionnaire. Hierarchical Regression, One-way ANOVA, and Independent T-test statistics were used to analyse the hypotheses generated. Results revealed that; Family communication patterns- conformity orientation predicted romantic attachment-related anxiety (β= .20, p < .01) while conversational orientations predicted romantic attachment avoidance (β= -.43, p < .01). Perceived Parental Warmth was significantly and negatively related to romantic attachment avoidance [r (381) = -.25, p < .01]. Gender and marital status predicted romantic attachment anxiety [t (381) = 2.41, p <.05], (β= -.14, p < .05). Males and single emerging adults were more prone to romantic attachment-related anxiety and romantic attachment avoidance.