Conflict Management With Friends and Romantic Partners: The Role of Attachment and Negative Mood Regulation Expectancies

The degree to which attachment orientations are related to negative mood regulation expectancies and conflict management strategies with best friends and romantic partners was examined for a sample of late adolescent, female college students (N = 140). Correlational and multiple regression analyses yielded results that were generally consistent with theoretical expectations. Adolescents with more insecure attachment orientations were likely to report having difficulties managing conflict with attachment figures and had less confidence regulating negative mood than individuals who endorsed more secure orientations. In addition, more avoidant and ambivalent attachment orientations often predicted specific conflict management difficulties, and confidence in negative mood regulation partially mediated these associations. The results are discussed in relation to previous research on attachment theory and implications for interventions are offered.