Abstract

Attachment styles, alexithymia, and fear of intimacy are considered to be detrimental to degree of satisfaction
within the couples relationships. The present study aimed to investigate the moderating role of attachment styles
on the relationship of alexithymia and fear of intimacy with marital satisfaction in a sample of Iranian students.
Participants (313 males, 375 females) filled the Adult Attachment Inventory (AAI), the Farsi version of the
Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (FTAS-20), Fear of Intimacy Scale (FIS), and the Golombok Rust Inventory of
Marital State Questionnaire (GRIMS). Secure attachment style showed a significant positive association with
marital satisfaction, while insecure attachment styles as well as fear of intimacy and alexithymia showed
significant negative associations with marital satisfaction. The relationship between fear of intimacy and marital
satisfaction was moderated by secure and avoidant attachment styles. The results revealed that only avoidant
attachment style could moderate the relationship between alexithymia and marital satisfaction. Results of the
present study suggest that the relationship of alexithymia and fear of intimacy with marital satisfaction is not a
simple linear one. This is moderated in part by attachment styles. Hence, secure and insecure attachment
characteristics may have significant influence in marital relationship in opposite directions.

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