Resilience during a romantic quarrel depends on attachment to caregiver in infancy

By Staff Writer

Research published in the journal Psychological Science has found that a couple's ability to bounce back from having a fight depends on what each partner was like as an infant.

University of Minnesota scientists conducted a long-term study of people who were born in the mid-1970s. At the age of 20, participants were asked to bring their romantic partners to a series of tests, which asked them to discuss a subject on which they disagreed. Afterward, they had a cool-down period, during which they talked about something that they did agree on.

The researchers noticed that many of the couples appeared to be mentally fixated on the conflict discussion, and that they could not let go during the cool-down period. They found that these individuals tended to be less attached to their caregivers as infants. However, those who were more resilient were often closer to their parents or guardians during infancy.

 "If one person can lead this process of recovering from conflict, it may buffer the other person and the relationship," the researchers suggested.

Troubled teens who struggle with stress or anxiety disorders as a result of having relationship problems could learn to overcome their emotional distress with the help of a wilderness therapy program.