BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Attachment styles are the influential factors on individuals' decisions throughout life. Therefore, the aim of this study was to predict decision-making styles of elderly couples based on adult attachment styles in Qeshm city.
METHODS: In this descriptive and correlational study, the statistical population was 129 couples selected using available sampling in Qeshm and they responded to the questionnaires of attachment and decision-making styles. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient and simultaneous regression.
FINDINGS: The safe attachment style was considered as a positive predictor of rational decision-making style (β=0.14, p=0.05) and negative predictor of intuitive (β=-0.26, p=0.001), immediate (β=-0.23, p=0.001), avoidance (β=0.23, p=0.001) and dependency (β=-0.26, p=0.001) styles. The dismissing attachment style predicted positively the immediate (β=0.22, p=0.001), avoidant (β=0.24, p=0.01) and intuitive (β=-0.30, p=0.001) styles, and negatively the rational (β=-0.12, p=0.05) and dependency (β=-0.24, p=0.001) styles. The fearful attachment style was positive and negative predictor of intuitive (β=0.31, p=0.001) and rational decision-making (β=-0.11, p=0.05) styles, respectively, and the preoccupied attachment style was the only positive predictor of intuitive style (β=0.14, p=0.05).
CONCLUSION: The results of this study showed that the attachment styles had a great influence on how elderly couples use decision-making styles. Therefore, it can be helpful for couples to apply a suitable decision-making style by identifying their attachment styles. The results of the current study can be used in educational sessions to inform about the marriage consequences of people with risky attachment styles and their impact on adverse decisions during marital life.