Does Marriage Give Life Meaning? The Role of Attachment Styles and Marital Quality in the Construction of Meaning in Life

Abstract

The relationship between the sense of meaning in life, marital quality, and attachment styles constitutes an important area of psychological research, particularly in the context of adult functioning in close relationships. These variables are interrelated and mutually influence one another, forming a coherent system associated with individual well-being.

The present study aimed to examine the relationships between sense of meaning in life, marital quality, and attachment styles among adults in romantic relationships. The study included a sample of 168 participants. The results indicate that attachment styles and marital quality are associated with the sense of meaning in life to varying degrees; however, their role appears to be more complex than initially assumed. Attachment styles, particularly secure and avoidant styles, were found to be significantly related to components of meaning in life, suggesting their importance in the organization of individuals’ existential experiences.At the same time, the findings regarding marital quality indicate that its positive aspects (e.g., intimacy) are associated with a greater sense of meaning in life, whereas its negative aspects (e.g., disappointment) are related to the search for meaning in life. This suggests that relationship quality may influence the dynamics of meaning-seeking more strongly than the stable presence of meaning itself.