A study published in the journal SLEEP has found a link between relationship insecurity and sleep quality. Researchers discovered that people with anxious attachment styles may experience worse sleep, and that poor sleep can increase feelings of jealousy.
Attachment style refers to behavioral patterns in relationships. Anxious attachment involves a deep fear of abandonment. People with this style often feel insecure in relationships and seek more validation from their partners.
For the study, researchers worked with 68 young adults. Participants completed questionnaires about their sleep and relationships. They also provided daily self-reports for two weeks about their emotions and behaviors.
The results showed that anxious attachment can affect sleep. The study authors wrote that sleep disturbances are linked to more envy and jealousy in social relationships, but mainly for people with higher levels of relationship anxiety.
Study co-author Giovanni Alvarado said in a news release that people with anxious attachment may be more vulnerable to feelings of envy and jealousy when they are sleep-deprived. He added that this helps explain why some individuals have more difficulty handling social situations when tired. The findings could lead to more targeted interventions that consider a person’s relationship style when addressing sleep issues.
For those who struggle with anxious attachment, experts note that it is possible to work toward a more secure attachment style with professional help. Recognizing the attachment style and catching when it is triggered is a first step. Secure attachment takes time and patience to develop.
Basic sleep hygiene practices can also help. These include going to bed and waking up at the same time each day, keeping the bedroom cool and dark, and using a quality sleep supplement.
The study authors noted that these results provide early evidence that sleep’s impact on emotions may vary depending on attachment style. People with insecure attachment may be most at risk for the social and emotional effects of poor sleep.
