THE MODERATING ROLES OF SELF-REFLECTION AND INSIGHT IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INSECURE ATTACHMENT AND CONFLICTS IN ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIPS

Abstract

The present study aimed to examine the relationship between insecure attachment and conflicts in romantic relationships, with self-reflection and self-insight as moderating variables among young adults. It was hypothesized that insecure attachment would be significantly associated with romantic relationship conflicts and that self-reflection and self-insight would moderate this relationship. A correlational quantitative research design was employed. The sample consisted of 154 adults aged 20–40 years who had been in a romantic relationship for no longer than two years. Participants completed the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale–Short Form (ECR-S; Wei et al., 2007), the Romantic Partner Conflict Scale (RPCS; Zacchilli et al., 2009), and the Self-Reflection and Insight Scale–Short Form (SRIS-SF; Silvia, 2022). Data was analyzed using SPSS-26 to examine correlations and moderation effects. Results indicated significant associations between both dimensions of insecure attachment, anxious, and avoidant and various forms of romantic relationship conflict. Self-reflection and self-insight partially moderated these relationships, with significant but small interaction effects observed in two models. Additional analyses using independent samples t tests and ANOVA revealed significant demographic differences across key variables. Overall, the findings highlight the role of attachment-related tendencies in romantic conflict and suggest that self-evaluative processes may influence this association.