Attachment Styles, Parental Relationships and Changes in Sexual Orientation
Date
2020-05
Authors
Kaiser, Sierra E.
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Abstract
Sexual orientation throughout a lifespan is not always constant. The stability of
sexual orientation depends on many factors. This study examines how adult attachment
styles and parental relationship satisfaction relate to changes in sexual orientation
throughout the four stages of life. Past research on attachment styles has investigated how
infant-caregiver relationships, adolescent and adult romantic relationships influence
sexual behavior, yet little is known about how these relationships influence the stability
of sexual orientation. Participants completed an online survey including an Adult
Attachment Scale (AAS) questionnaire and were also asked to report on their sexual
orientation, maternal and paternal relationship satisfaction throughout childhood,
preadolescences, adolescence and adulthood. Using independent-sample t-tests, linear
regressions and correlations, we found that high scores on the anxiety dimension of the
attachment scale and low parental relationship satisfaction were contributing factors for
more changes in sexual orientation. Anxiety mediated the relationship between parental
relationship satisfaction and the stability of sexual orientation. Lower levels of
relationship satisfaction were associated with higher levels of anxiety, and higher levels
of anxiety were associated with more changes in sexual orientation. Future research
should look into other social or psychological factors that contribute to changes in sexual
orientation.
Description
Keywords
Attachment styles, Parental relationships, Sexual orientation
Citation
Kaiser, S. E. (2020). <i>Attachment styles, parental relationships and changes in sexual orientation</i> (Unpublished thesis). Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.