The Role of Attachment Style on Preference for Arranged Marriage

This study investigated the role attachment style plays in preference for arranged marriage among single, non-married Indians. It was conducted online using a survey company (Survata) with the requirement that participants be interested in an arranged marriage, be between 18-40 years of age and not be married. The survey was accessed through an online - link which could be located via any internet browser. Respondents included two hundred and seven respondents, who completed three questionnaires concerning their preference for an arranged marriage, attachment style, and acculturation and religious commitment. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and ANCOVA. The results indicate that attachment avoidance, attachment anxiety, religious commitment and acculturation play some role in arranged marriage preference. The Preoccupied attachment (high anxiety and low avoidance) style has the greatest impact on preference for arranged marriage. Acculturation also plays a role in preference for arranged marriage whereas an increase in religious commitment is correlated with a decline in arranged marriage preference. Attachment avoidance and acculturation to the Indian culture seem to play the biggest individual roles. Further analyses showed that the effect of attachment avoidance on preference for arranged marriage is mediated by acculturation but not be religious commitment. The results did not support expectations that attachment anxiety alone or religious commitment alone significantly predict preference for arranged marriage