Abstract
The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between socioeconomic status, adult attachment styles in close relationships, optimism, grit, and subjective well-being. More specifically, the study sought to examine if socioeconomic status (SES) and secure attachment in close relationships predicted higher levels of optimism, grit, and satisfaction with life. Furthermore, the study also sought to examine whether SES or a secure attachment style was a better predictor for all three variables. Surveys were administered online by means of Qualtrics. Participants were recruited by means of social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter, via the research platform Amazon Mechanical Turk, and via email. There were a total of 416 participants in the final sample. Results indicated that those who identified as belonging to higher socioeconomic statuses exhibited significantly higher levels of optimism, grit, and satisfaction with life. Results also indicated that those who were more securely attached in close relationships exhibited greater optimism, grit, and satisfaction with life. Lastly, results illustrated that secure attachment was a better predictor than SES for higher ratings of optimism, grit, and satisfaction with life. Implications of the current findings and directions for future research were explored.