How do periods of forced separation or deployment impact attachment styles and emotional regulation in LGBT partnerships?
The research question explores how periods of forced separation or deployment affect attachment styles and emotional regulation in LGBT partnerships. It is important to understand these effects because they can lead to changes in behavior, communication patterns, and relationship satisfaction. This article will discuss how separations may alter secure attachment, avoidant attachment, anxious attachment, and fearful-avoidant attachment in LGBTQ couples.
Secure Attachment
Secure attachment refers to an individual's sense of security when it comes to their partner being there for them emotionally during times of need. When one person in an LGBTQ couple deploys for an extended period, the other may feel abandoned or unsupported, leading to insecurity about the strength of the relationship. As a result, they may act out in ways that damage trust or cause distrust in their partner.
They might become possessive, jealous, or controlling as a way to reassure themselves that their partner still loves them despite being away. In some cases, this can cause tension and arguments between partners that may last beyond the deployment period.
Avoidant Attachment
Avoidant attachment occurs when individuals are afraid of getting too close to others due to past experiences with abandonment or rejection. During deployments, partners who have this style may withdraw from each other to protect themselves from potential hurt feelings if something happens to their loved one. They may also suppress their emotions, making it difficult for them to express themselves fully. If left unchecked, this pattern could lead to further distance in the relationship and resentment towards the deployed partner upon return.
Anxious Attachment
Anxious attachment is characterized by an excessive need for closeness and dependence on a partner. Deployments can exacerbate these needs because they create an imbalance in communication patterns, leaving one partner feeling ignored while the other feels overwhelmed. This imbalance can lead to negative behaviors such as clinginess, obsessive texting/calling, and even stalking-like behavior that may not be healthy for either person.
Anxiety around the deployment may cause stress and worry that leads to unhealthy coping mechanisms like alcohol or drug use.
Fearful-Avoidant Attachment
Fearful-avoidant attachment is a combination of avoidant and anxious styles where people fear intimacy but simultaneously crave closeness. When separated, fearful-avoidants may try to control the situation through micro-managing or being passive-aggressive instead of addressing underlying issues head-on. Their fear of intimacy makes it challenging for them to open up about how they feel during separations, leading to more conflict within the relationship after reuniting with their partner.
Emotional Regulation
Emotional regulation refers to the ability to manage intense feelings without becoming overwhelmed or acting out negatively. Separation from a loved one can disrupt emotional regulation in LGBTQ partnerships due to increased anxiety, depression, and irritability. Without adequate support systems or healthy coping strategies, individuals may turn to substances or unhealthy behaviors to cope, which further damages relationships.
Periods of forced separation or deployment impact attachment styles and emotional regulation differently depending on individual circumstances. Understanding these dynamics can help couples develop better communication strategies before, during, and after deployments so that they can navigate separation successfully while preserving relationship satisfaction and trust.
How do periods of forced separation or deployment impact attachment styles and emotional regulation in LGBT partnerships?
Research has shown that periods of forced separation or deployment can have significant effects on attachment styles and emotional regulation within LGBTQ+ relationships. Studies have found that individuals who experience prolonged separations from their romantic partners may develop increased feelings of anxiety, fear, and sadness, as well as difficulty with communication and intimacy upon reunion (Rothwell et al. , 2016).