EXPLORING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN ATTACHMENT STYLES, RELATIONSHIP SATISFACTION, AND SLEEP DISTURBANCES AMONG YOUNG ADULTS IN INDIA

Abstract

This study examined the relationships between attachment styles, relationship satisfaction, and sleep disturbances among 300 young adults (mean age = 21.7 years) in India, specifically testing whether relationship satisfaction mediates the attachment-sleep pathway. Participants in committed romantic relationships completed the Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised Short Form (ECR-R), Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Correlation analyses revealed significant associations: attachment insecurity positively correlated with sleep disturbances (r = .530, p < .001), negatively correlated with relationship satisfaction (r = -.498, p < .001), and relationship satisfaction showed strong negative correlation with sleep disturbances (r = -.759, p < .001). Mediation analysis demonstrated that relationship satisfaction partially mediated the attachment-sleep relationship, with 62% of the total effect (B = 0.280) operating indirectly through relationship satisfaction (B = 0.173), while the direct effect remained significant (B = 0.107). The mean PSQI score of 9.18 (SD = 5.22) indicated that a substantial proportion of participants experienced clinically significant sleep disturbances. Results support integrative models linking emotional security through relational quality to physiological health outcomes in collectivist cultural contexts, with implications for interventions targeting both attachment patterns and relationship quality to improve sleep health.