Comparative Study on Emotional Dependence in Romantic Relationships among Young Adults from Entre Ríos

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the level of emotional dependency and whether there are gender differences among young adults in romantic relationships from Entre Ríos, Argentina. Materials and method: The sample consisted of 121 individuals, 60 men and 61 women, aged between 18 and 25 years. The Emotional Dependency Inventory (EDI) was used. Basic descriptive statistical analysis and multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) were performed. Results: Participants obtained scored low to intermediate scores on most dimensions of emotional dependency. Males scored higher than females on most dimensions of emotional dependency. Statistically significant differences were observed in the following factors: fear of breakup, partner priority, need for access to the partner, desire for exclusivity, subordination and submission, and desire for control and dominance.