Exploring individual psychological characteristics associated with unmarried status: Focusing on attachment style

Abstract

In Japan, the percentage of single adults has been increasing steadily since 1990. Although previous studies have identified socioeconomic factors as a reason for individuals remaining single, they have largely overlooked psychological factors. Thus, the present study explored psychological factors associated with singlehood, with a focus on attachment style. We analyzed data obtained from 3,568 men and women aged 29–39 years. Using logistic regression, we examined the effects of socioeconomic variables, which previous research had determined to affect marital experience, and the two dimensions of attachment (i.e., anxiety and avoidance) on marital experience. The results demonstrated that the two dimensions of attachment were associated with marital experience even when controlling for the socioeconomic variables. The study observed that the socioeconomic variables moderated these associations. The findings highlighted the importance of considering not only socioeconomic but also psychological factors as possible determinants of marital experience.