Patterns and Universals of Adult Romantic Attachment Across 62 Cultural Regions
Authors: Schmitt David P. , Alcalay Lidia , Allensworth Melissa , Allik Jüri , Ault Lara , Austers Ivars , Bennett Kevin L. , Bianchi Gabriel , Boholst Fredrick , Cunen Mary Ann Borg , Braeckman Johan , Brainerd Edwin G. , Caral Leo Gerard A. , Caron Gabrielle , Casullo Maria Martina , Cunningham Michael , Daibo Ikuo , De Backer Charlotte , De Souza Eros , Diaz-Loving Rolando , Diniz GlÁUcia , Durkin Kevin , Echegaray Marcela , Eremsoy Ekin , Euler Harald A. , Falzon Ruth , Fisher Maryanne L. , Foley Dolores , Fowler Robert , Fry Douglas P. , Fry Sirpa , Ghayur M. Arif , Giri Vijai N. , Golden Debra L. , Grammer Karl , Grimaldi Liria , Halberstadt Jamin , Haque Shamsul , Herrera Dora , Hertel Janine , Hitchell Amanda , Hoffmann Heather , Hooper Danica , Hradilekova Zuzana , Hudek-Kene-Evi Jasna , Huffcutt Allen , Jaafar Jas , Jankauskaite Margarita , Kabangu-Stahel Heidi , Kardum Igor , Khoury Brigitte , Kwon Hayrran , Laidra Kaia , Laireiter Anton-Rupert , Lakerveld Dustin , Lampert Ada , Lauri Maryanne , LavallÉe Marguerite , Lee Suk-Jae , Leung Luk Chung , Locke Kenneth D. , Locke Vance , Luksik Ivan , Magaisa Ishmael , Marcinkeviciene Dalia , Mata AndrÉ , Mata Rui , Mccarthy Barry , Mills Michael E. , Mkhize Nhlanhla J. , Moreira JoÃO , Moreira SÉRgio , Moya Miguel , Munyae M. , Noller Patricia , Olimat Hmoud , Opre Adrian , Panayiotou Alexia , Petrovic Nebojsa , Poels Karolien , Popper Miroslav , Poulimenou Maria , P'Yatokha Volodymyr , Raymond Michel , Reips Ulf-Dietrich , Reneau Susan E. , Rivera-Aragon Sofia , Rowatt Wade C. , Ruch Willibald , Rus Velko S. , Safir Marilyn P. , Salas Sonia , Sambataro Fabio , Sandnabba Kenneth N. , Schleeter Rachel , Schulmeyer Marion K. , SchÜTz Astrid , Scrimali Tullio , Shackelford Todd K. , Sharan Mithila B. , Shaver Phillip R. , Sichona Francis , Simonetti Franco , Sineshaw Tilahun , Sookdew R. , Speelman Tom , Spyrou Spyros , Sümer H. Canan , Sümer Nebi , Supekova Marianna , Szlendak Tomasz , Taylor Robin , Timmermans Bert , Tooke William , Tsaousis Ioannis , Tungaraza F. S.K. , Turner Ashley , Vandermassen Griet , Vanhoomissen Tim , Van Overwalle Frank , Vanwesenbeeck Ine , Vasey Paul L. , Verissimo JoÃO , Voracek Martin , Wan Wendy W.N. , Wang Ta-Wei , Weiss Peter , Wijaya Andik , Woertman Liesbeth , Youn Gahyun , ZupanÈiÈ Agata 
Published: June 2004

As part of the International Sexuality Description Project, a total of 17,804 participants from 62 cultural regions completedthe RelationshipQuestionnaire(RQ), a self-reportmeasure of adult romanticattachment. Correlational analyses within each culture suggested that the Model of Self and the Model of Other scales of the RQ were psychometrically valid within most cultures. Contrary to expectations, the Model of Self and Model of Other dimensions of the RQ did not underlie the four-category model of attachment in the same way across all cultures. Analyses of specific attachment styles revealed that secure romantic attachment was normative in 79% of cultures and that preoccupied romantic attachment was particularly prevalent in East Asian cultures. Finally, the romantic attachment profiles of individual nations were correlated with sociocultural indicators in ways that supported evolutionary theories of romantic attachment and basic human mating strategies.