The dyadic interdependence of attachment security and dependency: A conceptual replication across older twin pairs and younger couples

The dyadic interdependence of attachment security and dependency was conceptually replicated across 80 monozygotic and 47 dizygotic older twin pairs, and 214 younger heterosexual couples. Dyad members of each relationship type were similar in security and dependency. A substantial genetic contribution to dyadic attachment was indicated by higher similarity in MZ compared with DZ twins. Security and dependency were moderately correlated within individuals of each relationship type, but dyadic data analyses revealed relationship-specific patterns: The security of a dyad member correlated strongly with the dependency of the partner in both DZ pairs and couples, but not in MZ pairs. Whereas only actor effects were found in MZ twin pairs, actor and partner effects were observed in DZ pairs and couples. It is concluded that adult attachment should be generally viewed from a more dyadic perspective, one that also acknowledges relationship-specific variation.