Research Articles

Dr. Kilmann has published over 70 research articles in professional journals. The following is a selection of his research papers since 2000:


Carranza, L. V., & Kilmann, P. R. (2000). Links between perceived parent characteristics and attachment variables for women from intact families. Adolescence, 35, 295-312.

Urbaniak, G., & Kilmann, P. R. (2003). Physical attractiveness and the "Nice Guy Paradox": Do nice guys really finish last? Sex Roles, 49, 413-426.

Kilmann, P. R., Carranza, L. V., & Vendemia, J. M. C. (2006). Recollections of parent characteristics and attachment patterns for college women of intact vs. non-intact families. Journal of Adolescence, 29, 89-102.

Kilmann, P.R., Urbaniak, G. C., & Parnell, M. M. (2006). Effects of attachment-focused versus relationship skills-focused interventions for college students with insecure attachment patterns. Attachment and Human Development, 8, 47-62.

Urbaniak, G., & Kilmann, P.R., (2006). Niceness and dating success: A further test of the nice guy stereotype. Sex Roles, 55, 209-224.

Carranza, L. V., Kilmann, P. R., and Vendemia, J.M.C. (2009). Links between parent Characteristics and attachment variables for college students of parental divorce. Adolescence, 44, 253-271.

Kilmann, P. R., Vendemia, J. M. C., Parnell, M., & Urbaniak, G. (2009). Parent characteristics and daughters' attachment styles. Adolescence, 44, 557-568.

Kilmann, P. R., Finch, H., Parnell, M. M., & Downer, J. T. (2012) Partner attachment and interpersonal characteristics. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 38, 1-16.

Kilmann, P. R. (2012). Personality and interpersonal characteristics within distressed marriages. (2012). The Family Journal, 20, 132-140

Kilmann, P.R., Vendemia, J. M. C., Myers, L., Strickland, G., & Kilmann, A. (2012, under review). Personality characteristics of women seeking bariatric surgery.

Kilmann, P. R. (2012). Personality and interpersonal characteristics within distressed marriages. (2012). The Family Journal, 20, 132-140.

Kilmann, P. R., Finch, H., Parnell, M. M., & Downer, J. T. (2013) Partner attachment and interpersonal characteristics. Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 39, 144-159.

Kilmann, P.R., & Vendemia, J.M.C. (2013). Partner discrepancies in distressed marriages. Journal of Social Psychology, 153, 196-211.

Kilmann, P. R., & Vendemia, J.M.C. (2015). Partner characteristics in longer married clinical vs. non-clinical couples: A further test of spousal discrepancy theory. Unpublished manuscript, University of South Carolina.

Kilmann, P. R., Vendemia, J.M.C., & Pontinen, L. (2015). Characteristics of severely obese women seeking weight loss surgery versus overweight women seeking hypnosis for weight loss. Unpublished manuscript, University of South Carolina.

Kilmann, P. R., Warren. P. & Otis, K. (2015). Attachment orientation and relationship failure in never married women. Unpublished manuscript, University of South Carolina.


To read sample articles, click below on the topic:

Partner Characteristics in Married Couples

Nice Guy Study

Preventing Relationship Distress

Effects of Parental Divorce