The Influence of Father's Emotional Availability on Adult Romantic Relationship Attachment Patterns

Early interactions with caregivers play a crucial role in shaping emotional development and patterns of interpersonal relationships. The present study explores the association between perceived paternal emotional availability during childhood and adult romantic attachment patterns among young adults. Drawing on attachment theory, the research investigates whether paternal emotional availability predicts levels of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance in romantic relationships. A quantitative correlational research design was adopted. The sample consisted of 120 young adults aged between 18 and 30 years who were either currently involved in or had previously experienced a romantic relationship. Perceived paternal emotional availability was assessed using the father version of the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI), while adult attachment patterns were measured using the Experiences in Close Relationships – Revised (ECR-R) scale. Pearson’s product–moment correlation and regression analysis were used to examine relationships between the variables. The findings indicated that paternal emotional availability was not significantly associated with attachment anxiety or attachment avoidance. Regression results also suggested that paternal emotional availability did not significantly predict adult attachment patterns. These findings indicate that adult attachment orientations may emerge from a combination of developmental, relational, and contextual factors beyond paternal emotional availability alone.