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Adult attachment and online dating deception: a theory modernized

Mosley, Marissa A. ; Lancaster, Morgan ; Parker, M. L. ; Campbell, Kelly (2020) — Sexual and Relationship Therapy

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DOI: 10.1080/14681994.2020.1714577 (opens in a new tab)

Type:   Journal Article
Country:   United States
Tags:   Adult Attachment, Attachment Anxiety, Attachment Avoidance, Catfishing, Gender, Online Dating Deception, Online Only Relationships, Romantic Deception
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Synopsis

            
This article investigates how adult attachment styles relate to online dating deception, specifically catfishing, in online-only relationships. The authors frame catfishing within Attachment Theory and aim to determine whether gender and two attachment dimensions—anxiety and avoidance—predict whether a person is more likely to be a perpetrator or a target of online dating deception. Using a cross-sectional design, the study analyzed data from 1,107 adults recruited via social media, volunteer boards, a blog, and university pools. Participants completed measures of demographic characteristics, catfishing status (perpetrator, target, or both), and adult attachment using the Experiences in Close Relationships-Short Form (ECR-S). The researchers conducted three logistic regression models to predict catfishing status from gender alone, gender with avoidance, and gender with avoidance and anxiety. The sample consisted mostly of women (917) and men (190), with women more often reporting catfish targets and men more often reporting catfish perpetrators. Findings indicate that men are more likely than women to be catfish perpetrators, while women are more likely to be targets. Attachment anxiety independently predicted catfishing status, increasing the likelihood of perpetration, even when controlling for gender and avoidance. Attachment avoidance also showed predictive value, but its effect diminished when anxiety was accounted for, suggesting anxiety may be the more salient predictor in this online dating deception context. The authors discuss clinical implications for attachment-informed practice and note limitations related to cross-sectional design, sampling, and self-identification of catfishing status.

          

        
                  

            
Identified Gaps

            
The paper identifies limited research on attachment in relationships maintained solely through technology and comparatively little information about perpetrators of online dating deception. It also notes the absence of a formalized catfishing assessment instrument, limiting the ability to assess behavioral severity and degree. The authors call for comparisons between catfishing-experienced participants and typical online daters.

          

        
                  

            
Methods

            
A cross-sectional convenience sample of 1,107 adults who self-reported catfishing experience as a target, perpetrator, or both completed online questionnaires. Recruitment occurred through social media, volunteer boards, a blog, and university participant pools. Adult attachment anxiety and avoidance were measured with the 12-item Experiences in Close Relationships–Short Form. The authors used ANOVA, t-tests, and three binary logistic regression models to predict target versus perpetrator/both status from gender, avoidance, and anxiety.

          

        
                  

            
Limitations

            
Cross-sectional convenience sampling prevents causal inference and limits generalizability. The study had no control group of typical online daters. Catfishing status was self-identified, posing a threat to internal validity, and no formalized catfishing assessment was available. The sample was predominantly women, highly educated, and demographically bounded; the authors state that findings should be generalized only to represented groups. The final model explained 7% of variance in catfishing status.

          

        
                  

            
Future Work

            
Develop and use a measure covering the spectrum, severity, and degree of catfishing behaviors. Include a control group of typical online daters. Recruit a more racially and ethnically diverse sample. Further research is also needed to substantiate the proposed attachment-informed clinical recommendations.

          

              

    
    

        
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