Attachment Anxiety Research Articles

From the perspective of terror management theory (TMT), close relationships buffer against death anxiety. However, it is unclear whether these relationships are always the primary protective mechanism or interchangeable with other established anxiety buffers depending on situational contexts. Thus, this meta-analysis examined moderating variables in the link between attachment orientations and death anxiety, including 18 studies with 6338 participants. Attachment anxiety was associated with higher death anxiety (r = 0.27, 95% CI [0.18, 0.36]), with no significant moderators. Attachment avoidance also predicted death anxiety (r = 0.16, 95% CI [0.07, 0.24]), moderated by age and education. These findings support the role of close relationships in mitigating death anxiety and refine the understanding of TMT mechanisms.

From the perspective of literature review, this paper explores how emotional needs and adult attachment types jointly predict an individual's romantic motivation. The research background stems from attachment theory and self-determination theory. This theory holds that early attachment patterns and emotional needs (such as security, belongingness, and self-worth) constitute the core foundation for establishing and maintaining intimate relationships. The analysis of the research subjects indicates that people with secure attachment characteristics are more likely to establish trust and commitment, thereby stimulating relationship motivation; while those with anxious or avoidant attachment patterns will inevitably face difficulties in emotional regulation and have lower relationship satisfaction. The satisfaction of emotional needs (such as autonomy, belongingness, and intimacy) significantly enhances relationship satisfaction and long-term commitment, while the opposite leads to a decrease in motivation. The research methods mainly rely on a systematic review of empirical studies, including questionnaire surveys and longitudinal observations. The research results indicate that the security of attachment and the satisfaction of emotional needs both support the development and maintenance of romantic motivation. The conclusion is that future practice and research need to combine these two aspects. Regarding the thinking viewpoints on attachment and emotional needs, especially in psychotherapy and partner training, efforts should be made to increase the degree of need satisfaction and enhance emotional response capabilities, thereby establishing healthier and more stable romantic relationships.

Birth order influences a child’s personality development and has an impact on their attachment style significantly shaping their dynamics with their siblings. This paper focuses on sibling estrangement by analysing the sisters Elsa and Anna from the film Frozen (2013). Applying Alfred Adler’s Birth order theory and, John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth’s Attachment theory, the paper focuses on the two attachment styles that the sisters attain, Elsa acquires avoidant attachment style, showing traits such as isolation, loneliness, and disinterest in emotional attachment while Anna obtains anxious attachment style, indicating features of wanting to have an emotional bond and fear of being left alone. The study works on the importance of the relationship and communication between siblings. The estrangement between the sisters in the film Frozen is analysed by utilizing the two attachment styles (anxious and avoidant). Through instances, dialogues, and scenes from the film, an understanding of the connection between birth order and attachment styles can be analysed through the sibling relationship between Anna and Elsa. The emotional well-being and the harmony in the relationship that the siblings share after the estrangement show the importance of communication to revive from the sibling estrangement.

How does attachment affect help-seeking in people with paranoia and psychosis? The role of emotion regulation, self-stigma, and perceived support.

Impact of adult attachment style on bonding mediated by depression and anxiety across the perinatal period.

This study examined the mediating effect of self-disclosure on adult attachment and interpersonal competence among college students. A total of 338 students from across Korea participated in a survey assessing themselves on the Korean Interpersonal Competence Scale, the Adult Intimate Relationship Attachment Scale, and the Korean Self-Disclosure Scale. Correlation analyses were conducted to explore associations among the variables, and mediation was tested using SPSS PROCESS Macro(Hayes, 2013). The results indicated that both anxious and avoidant attachment were negatively correlated with interpersonal competence and self-disclosure, whereas self-disclosure was positively correlated with interpersonal competence. Furthermore, self-disclosure partially mediated the relationship between insecure attachment(anxious and avoidant) and interpersonal competence. These findings underscore the significance of adult attachment and self-disclosure as predictors of interpersonal competence. The study provides therapeutic suggestions for addressing insecure attachment patterns and enhancing interpersonal competence in counseling contexts as well as, practical suggestions for the development of intervention programs that promote self-disclosure.

Caregiving for cardiac patients is often accompanied by significant emotional and physical strain. While prior research has emphasized the contribution of support to mitigate caregivers’ burden, limited attention has been paid to the support they may receive from the patients themselves. Attachment theory provides a crucial lens for understanding individual differences in how this specific kind of partner’s support is perceived and utilized. Drawing on dyadic coping models and attachment theory, this study examines how support dynamics within the couple influence caregivers’ burden, and whether these effects depend on caregivers’ attachment orientations. Specifically, the study investigates whether caregivers’ attachment anxiety and avoidance moderate the associations between (a) patient-reported support provided to the caregiver (b) caregiver perceived received support from the patient, and (c) levels of caregiver burden during cardiac rehabilitation. Eighty-eight heterosexual couples, in which the male partner had experienced a recent cardiac event, were assessed at the beginning and end of a three-month rehabilitation program. Measures included self-reported support (provided and received), attachment orientations, and multidimensional caregivers’ burden. Overall support was not directly associated with reduced general burden. Caregivers high in avoidant attachment reported lower emotional burden when they perceived receiving greater support from their ill partner. No such effect was found among caregivers low in avoidance or those high in anxious attachment. These findings highlight the importance of considering both interpersonal and intrapersonal factors in understanding caregiver burden. Recognizing and addressing attachment-related patterns in caregiving dyads could inform targeted interventions aimed at reducing emotional distress and enhancing resilience in couples coping with cardiac illness.

Attachment theory (Bowlby, 1973, 1980, 1969/1982) suggests that early interpersonal experiences lay the foundation for the ways people think, feel, and behave in close relationships throughout life. The present study examined this fundamental assumption, analyzing longitudinal data collected from 705 participants and their families over 3 decades, from the time participants were infants until they were approximately 30 years old (Mage = 28.6, SD = 1.2; 78.7% White, non-Hispanic, 53.6% female, 46.4% male). We examined the associations between early levels and growth (or changes) in the quality of people's close relationships during childhood-including with their parents, friends, peers, and romantic partners-and their attachment orientations in adulthood. The findings suggest that early experiences with caregivers play a foundational and enduring role in people's attachment-related functioning: Early levels of mother-child relationship quality predicted individual differences in general attachment anxiety and avoidance in adulthood, as well as adults' relationship-specific attachment orientations in each of their close relationships, including with their mothers, fathers, romantic partners, and best friends (median R² = 3% for attachment anxiety and avoidance across relationship domains). Early levels and growth in the quality of people's friendships during childhood also predicted general attachment orientations in adulthood (R²attachment anxiety = 2%; R²avoidance = 9%) and played a particularly important role in guiding the ways adults tended to think, feel, and behave in their friendships and romantic relationships (R²attachment anxiety = 4%; R²avoidance = 10%-11%). (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

ABSTRACT Objective: Emotion regulation (ER) is increasingly recognized as a key mechanism in couple therapy. However, little is known about how ER changes across treatment or how early adverse events and current attachment experiences shape this process. Methods: Using a sample of 308 married individuals in couple therapy, this study examined changes in ER difficulties across a total of 24 sessions. We also tested whether adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and current attachment insecurity (anxiety, avoidance) predicted baseline levels and changes in ER. Results: Multilevel modelling showed a small but significant decline in ER difficulties across sessions. Both ACEs and insecure attachment were associated with higher baseline ER difficulties. However, only avoidant attachment predicted greater improvement over time. ACEs and attachment anxiety were unrelated to change. Variance analysis revealed that most variation in ER occurred between individuals (70%) and within individuals over time (23%), with minimal variance at the couple (5%) and therapist (2%) levels. Conclusion: Findings support ER as a dynamic treatment target and underscore the importance of assessing developmental history and current attachment insecurity to guide intervention.

For first responders, their cumulative trauma exposure can lead to negative mental health consequences, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and generalized anxiety, which places them at an elevated risk for suicide. To mitigate the impact of this exposure, attachment theory offers a framework for conceptualizing these complex interactions. In this study of treatment-seeking first responders ( N = 190), we used measures of PTSD, depression, and generalized anxiety as predictor variables and conducted ten PROCESS parallel mediation models with attachment avoidance and attachment anxiety as the mediators to the dependent variable, suicide. Attachment anxiety significantly mediated every parallel model, whereas attachment avoidance only significantly mediated dysphoric arousal, anxious arousal, and generalized anxiety. Attachment anxiety amplifies distress, which makes it a theoretical construct that deserves attention in clinical practice to prevent suicide.

BackgroundNowadays, many middle-aged and older adults are starting to keep pets. However, previous studies have yielded divergent results regarding the well-being of middle-aged and older adults who keep pets. Therefore, this study aimed to (1) explore how individual differences in well-being are related to the interaction between middle-aged and older adults and their pets, (2) examine how neuroticism may moderate the relationship between the time middle-aged and older adults spend with their pets and their well-being, (3) investigate how anxious attachment orientation may moderate the relationship between the time middle-aged and older adults spend with their pets and their well-being. The subjects of the research were middle-aged and older adults over 45 years old who raised dogs or cats in Taiwan.MethodsThe study sampled 292 subjects (232 valid), of whom 84% were women. This study used regression analysis to explore the correlation and interaction between variables.ResultsNeuroticism significantly moderated the relationship between pet interaction time and well-being among middle-aged and older adults. Higher neuroticism was associated with decreased well-being as interaction time increased, while lower neuroticism showed no such effect. A marginally significant moderation effect also suggested that anxious attachment orientation may influence this relationship.ConclusionsThe findings highlight the role of psychological traits in shaping the well-being effects of pet interaction. While increased interaction supports well-being in those with low anxious attachment, it may be detrimental for individuals with high anxious attachment. These results underscore the need to consider psychological differences when evaluating the benefits of pet companionship.

Research exploring the connection between pet ownership and mental health has expanded substantially in recent years, yet scientific evidence remains inconclusive. Existing studies have oversimplified this relationship by focusing primarily on pet ownership itself, without accounting for crucial factors such as species of the pet, or important relationship dynamics such as owner-pet attachment orientations. This study sought to investigate whether the relationship between owner-pet attachment and owner mental health could be better understood through the lens of owner-perceived pet compatibility, perceived pet welfare, and pet behavioral issues. These under researched aspects are believed to play crucial roles in shaping owner-pet relationships and owner mental well-being. This study surveyed emerging adults (ages 18–26) who owned dogs and/or cats from the United Kingdom (N = 600) who self-identified as experiencing difficulties with anxiety and/or low mood, of whom some reported clinical diagnoses. Our findings revealed that dog owners exhibited more secure pet attachments than cat owners. Anxious attachment was associated with poorer mental health among dog owners, while avoidant attachment was associated with better mental health in both dog and cat owners. Insecure attachment related to poorer perceived pet quality of life, increased reports of pet behavioral problems, and poorer owner-pet compatibility, regardless of pet species. Additionally, poorer welfare and more behavioral problems were associated with poorer mental health for dog owners; these findings were not replicated for cat owners. Notably, a dog’s mental state (such as appearing depressed), as well as fear and anxiety, mediated the relationship between owner-pet attachment and owner mental health. Owner-dog compatibility, particularly in the affection domain, positively mediated the relationship between anxious attachment and poorer mental health, while negatively mediating the relationship between avoidant attachment and better mental health. These findings suggest that a simplistic view of pet ownership fails to capture the complexity of the factors that shape the mental health of pet owners and underscores the need to consider important owner-pet factors to fully understand how the human-pet relationship can impact the well-being of both people and their pets.

Research exploring the connection between pet ownership and mental health has expanded substantially in recent years, yet scientific evidence remains inconclusive. Existing studies have oversimplified this relationship by focusing primarily on pet ownership itself, without accounting for crucial factors such as species of the pet, or important relationship dynamics such as owner-pet attachment orientations. This study sought to investigate whether the relationship between owner-pet attachment and owner mental health could be better understood through the lens of owner-perceived pet compatibility, perceived pet welfare, and pet behavioral issues. These under researched aspects are believed to play crucial roles in shaping owner-pet relationships and owner mental well-being. This study surveyed emerging adults (ages 18-26) who owned dogs and/or cats from the United Kingdom (N = 600) who self-identified as experiencing difficulties with anxiety and/or low mood, of whom some reported clinical diagnoses. Our findings revealed that dog owners exhibited more secure pet attachments than cat owners. Anxious attachment was associated with poorer mental health among dog owners, while avoidant attachment was associated with better mental health in both dog and cat owners. Insecure attachment related to poorer perceived pet quality of life, increased reports of pet behavioral problems, and poorer owner-pet compatibility, regardless of pet species. Additionally, poorer welfare and more behavioral problems were associated with poorer mental health for dog owners; these findings were not replicated for cat owners. Notably, a dog's mental state (such as appearing depressed), as well as fear and anxiety, mediated the relationship between owner-pet attachment and owner mental health. Owner-dog compatibility, particularly in the affection domain, positively mediated the relationship between anxious attachment and poorer mental health, while negatively mediating the relationship between avoidant attachment and better mental health. These findings suggest that a simplistic view of pet ownership fails to capture the complexity of the factors that shape the mental health of pet owners and underscores the need to consider important owner-pet factors to fully understand how the human-pet relationship can impact the well-being of both people and their pets.

ABSTRACT Background: Dissociative conversion disorders involve problems with memory, identity, emotion, perception, behavior, and sense of self. Dissociative symptoms can potentially disrupt psychological, social, and daily life functioning. It is clinically important to evaluate the presence of comorbidities and other characteristics in dissociative disorders which can help in better patient management. Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the clinical characteristics comprising of symptoms, comorbid personality patterns, insight, emotional perception toward their family, and attachment style among patients suffering from dissociative conversion disorder who are attending psychiatry outdoor of a government hospital. Materials and Methods: Sixty patients were selected from the psychiatry outpatient department diagnosed according to the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision and the scales (Dissociative Disorders Interview Schedule, Beck Insight Inventory, Personality Disorder Questionnaire-4, Family Emotional Involvement and Criticism Scale, and Adult Attachment Scale) were administered. Results: Majority of the dissociative patients were found to have somatic complaints and major depressive episodes. In terms of comorbid personality pattern, borderline personality disorder has been found to be the prominent one. Majority of the patients have reported high perceived criticism from their family members, loved ones along with high anxious and avoidant attachment styles. Conclusion: The findings indicate that patients with dissociative conversion disorder need to be interviewed clinically in terms of the comorbidity and underlying psychopathology which will be helpful in the treatment planning. The understanding of the underlying psychological processes will also be helpful for the management in terms of psychotherapy.

ABSTRACT Individuals can receive plenty of attention but still feel ignored. This paper expands Williams’s work on ostracism – being ignored and excluded – by demonstrating that partial ostracism operates through different paths: inconsistent attention, selective inclusion, or superficial recognition that ignores essential aspects of a person’s identity. I trace how partial ostracism research evolved from Cyberball’s irregular inclusion to out of the loop informational exclusion. I then demonstrate how sexual objectification represents a form of partial ostracism where women feel ostracized despite receiving focused attention because the recognition centers on their appearance while disregarding their personhood. This challenges the previous assumption that receiving attention is the polar opposite to being ostracized. It also opens the possibility that partial ostracism manifests across diverse contexts, such as: inconsistent caregiving that forms anxious attachment or workplace tokenism that makes minority members hypervisible yet marginalized. These examples reveal the potential pervasiveness of partial ostracism in everyday social interactions, underscoring the importance of systematic investigation.

Demoralization is a syndrome of existential distress characterized by helplessness, hopelessness, loss of meaning, personal failure, and difficulty coping. This study explored the correlation between demoralization, social support, and attachment to health care providers in cancer patients. We conducted an observational, cross-sectional study with 150 inpatients and outpatients (≥ 18 years) from two hospitals. Personal and medical data were collected; patients completed psychometric instruments: Demoralization Scale II (DS-II), Experiences in Close Relationship Scale-Modified Short Form (ECR-M16), and Medical Outcomes Study (MOS) Social Support Survey. Participants' mean age was 62 years (range 20-85); 59.3% were women. Diagnoses included breast (33%), gastrointestinal (24%), and lung cancer (15%). Women had significantly higher DS-II factor 2 scores (p = 0.058). DS-II factor 2 correlated positively with age (p = 0.016). Multiple linear regression indicated that ECR-Discomfort significantly impacted DS-II factor 1 (p = 0.011, R2 = 9.3%) and factor 2 (p < 0.001, R2 = 12.1%). ECR-Anxiety also influenced DS-II factor 1 (p = 0.055, R2 = 2.7%) and factor 2 (p = 0.054, R2 = 2.4%). No significant correlation was found between demoralization and social support. Anxious and discomfort attachment patterns to health care providers exacerbate demoralization in cancer patients. Early identification of attachment styles may help reduce existential distress. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating psychological training into oncology education to better equip professionals in recognizing and addressing emotional vulnerability.

Interpersonal affectionate touch plays a crucial role in social bonding, stress regulation, and psychological well-being. However, individual differences in past touch experiences and attitudes toward touch remain understudied. This study aimed to validate the German version of the touch experiences and attitudes questionnaire (TEAQ-G) and investigate how the subscales childhood touch experiences, current intimate touch, and attitudes toward touch relate to social relationships, mental health, emotional states, cortisol and oxytocin levels in everyday life. Data from 1,319 study participants suggest good psychometric properties of the TEAQ-G, confirming its reliability and validity as a tool for assessing touch experiences and attitudes. Regression analyses revealed that retrospectively reported more positive childhood touch and current intimate touch were associated with lower levels of attachment avoidance, stress, anxiety, depression, and loneliness, as well as higher resilience, family functioning, and relationship satisfaction. These findings were further supported by ecological momentary assessment data from 253 subjects (6 measures à two days, resulting in 3036 data points), associating positive childhood touch experiences with more favorable daily emotional states in adulthood. Specifically, individuals reported lower levels of stress, anxiety, loneliness, and burden related to the COVID-19 pandemic, along with increased happiness. Similarly, current intimate touch was linked to lower stress, pandemic-related burden, reduced loneliness, higher happiness, and moderately higher salivary oxytocin levels. Moreover, both childhood touch experiences and attitudes toward intimate touch significantly moderated the relationship between daily affectionate touch reports and individuals’ happiness, stress levels, pandemic-related burden, and cortisol concentrations. Our results emphasize the developmental importance of early touch experiences and highlight the lasting impact of both early and ongoing touch on attachment, social relationships, psychological well-being, and hormonal responses in everyday life.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-20885-y.

ABSTRACT Parenting children with behavioral and emotional difficulties often involves significant stress and emotional challenges, requiring targeted interventions to support parental well-being. This study examines how attachment styles (anxious and avoidant) influence emotion regulation (ER) difficulties in parents, focusing on the mediating roles of self-compassion and parental feelings. Data were collected from 662 parents of children receiving care in a psychiatric center. Path analysis revealed that insecure attachment styles are directly linked to increased ER difficulties. Self-compassion emerged as a protective mediator, while parental anger uniquely mediated the relationship between anxious attachment and ER challenges. These findings underscore the need for social work interventions that enhance self-compassion and address parental emotions, particularly in high-stress caregiving contexts. This study highlights actionable pathways for improving parental ER capacities, which can strengthen family resilience and enhance outcomes for children receiving mental health care.

This study examined the impact of childhood environmental unpredictability on hoarding behavior, focusing on the mediating roles of attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance and the moderating role of environmental cues. Three studies were conducted: Study 1 investigated the effect of childhood environmental unpredictability on hoarding behavior through big data analysis and an experiment; Study 2 tested the mediating effects of attachment anxiety and avoidance, as well as the moderating role of environmental cues, using a two-stage questionnaire; and Study 3 further explored differences in hoarding behavior across attachment styles. Results indicated that childhood environmental unpredictability significantly and positively predicted hoarding behavior, with attachment anxiety and avoidance serving as parallel mediators. Moreover, pandemic-related environmental cues moderated the direct effect of childhood environmental unpredictability on hoarding behavior, with this effect weakening after the cues diminished. These findings provide novel insights into hoarding behavior as an adaptive response to childhood environmental unpredictability, clarify the roles of attachment anxiety and avoidance as adaptive mechanisms, and underscore the influence of current environmental cues in shaping hoarding behavior.

Infidelity has negative consequences on both partners’ mental health and romantic relationship quality. Recent studies demonstrated that adult attachment insecurity is linked to Turkish emerging adults’ infidelity intentions. However, the associations of infidelity intentions with perceived emotional and sexual intimacy and parental infidelity experience need further investigation. In order to address this gap in the literature, the current study explored the associations between parental infidelity, adult attachment anxiety and avoidance, emotional and sexual intimacy, and infidelity intentions among Turkish emerging adults. The sample included 280 participants who were 18­–30 years old, unmarried, childless, and in an ongoing romantic relationship for at least a year. Participants who were deemed eligible completed an online survey through Qualtrics. Findings suggested that a history of cheating on a prior romantic partner, parental infidelity, and the level of adult attachment avoidance were positively related to infidelity intentions, while perceived emotional and sexual intimacy were negatively associated with infidelity intentions. There was no significant relationship between adult attachment anxiety and infidelity intentions. These findings shed light on the importance of addressing parental infidelity, adult attachment avoidance, and intimacy problems in couples therapy, given the risk of engaging in infidelity.