The Role of Intact Family Structure in the Relationship between Sexual Orientation and Adult Attachment Anxiety

Purpose: Research demonstrates that individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB) have greater attachment anxiety in developing and maintaining relationships with peers or romantic partners in adulthood. Although the development of secure attachment is particularly important in infancy, experiences in adolescence can promote change in individuals’ prior attachment styles or experiences. For instance, family structure and support have been found to impact how adolescents learn to develop relationships with others as they transition into adulthood. However, little research has been conducted examining how family structure impacts adult attachment in LGB populations. This study sought to address this gap by examining if being raised in an intact family moderates the association between sexual orientation and adult attachment anxiety.

Methods: This secondary analysis used data collected for the New Family Structures Study (NFSS). The NFSS is a nationally representative cross-sectional study completed in 2012. The analytic sample consisted of 2,988 young adults ages 18-39. NFSS measures of sexual orientation, family structure in adolescence, adult attachment anxiety, and family of origin safety and security constituted the primary study measures. Demographic covariates were included in the model to control for gender, age, race/ethnicity, and experience with bullying in adolescence. Ordinary least squares regressions were used to assess the associations between the main dependent variable, adult attachment anxiety, and the main independent variables of sexual orientation and being raised in an intact family.

Results: Sexual orientation was a significant predictor of adult attachment anxiety. Individuals who identified as mostly homosexual but somewhat attracted to the opposite sex (b=9.2, p=0.00), bisexual (b=3.5, p<0.01), and mostly heterosexual but somewhat attracted to the same sex (b=2, p<0.01) showed greater anxiety and fear of rejection or abandonment in adult relationships compared to those who identified as exclusively heterosexual. There was no significant difference for participants identifying as exclusively homosexual, nor was there a main or interaction effect for being raised in an intact family. However, family of origin safety and security was significant (b=.55, p=0.00); adults who felt supported in relationships with their caregivers in adolescence showed reduced anxiety and fear of abandonment in adult relationships.

Implications: Individuals whose sexual orientation lies between being exclusively heterosexual or homosexual evidenced greater anxiety in their adult relationships. Contrary to the findings of other studies that did not account for sexual orientation, being raised in an intact family with two biological parents was not a predictor of adult attachment. Instead, we found family support and security to be an important determinant of adult attachment anxiety, suggesting that regardless of family structure, caregivers who provide a safe and secure environment for adolescents can facilitate emotional development. This finding indicates that when working with LGB youth and their families, focusing on the quality of the family relationships, particularly the provision of a safe and secure environment, rather than on family structure per se, would have a larger impact on helping sexual minority adolescents establish trusting and meaningful relationships as they move into adulthood.