Saying 'I do': examining the relationship between attachment style and motivation to marry in young adults

This thesis aimed to investigate the relationship between attachment style and attitudes towards marriage. Three hundred and forty-one young adults (276 female and 56 male) aged between 18-25 who were currently in heterosexual relationships, that were at least one year, long took part in the study. Data was collected by an internet based questionnaire. Attachment style was found to be related with desire to marry, reasons for marriage, and the types of relationship participants formed. However, attachment was unrelated to the participants’ ideal age of first marriage and participants’ expectations of how marriage would improve their life. Further studies are recommended to investigate the stability of attachment over the duration of a relationship. Although attachment was related to the decision to marry in young adulthood, enduring relationships with high levels of commitment best distinguished those who married from other participants.