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Adult attachment, stress, and romantic relationships
Open accessAbstract
In this article, we discuss theory and research on how individuals who have insecure adult romantic attachment orientations typically think, feel, and behave when they or their romantic partners encounter certain types of chronic or acute stress. We first review basic principles of attachment theory and then discuss how two forms of attachment insecurity-anxiety and avoidance-are associated with unique patterns of emotion regulation in response to certain types of threatening/distressing situations. We then discuss a diathesis-stress process model that has guided our research, highlighting studies that provide support for certain pathways of the model.
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“Secure attachment is linked to higher trust and responsibility (Simpson & Rholes, 2017), better intimacy (Pielage, Luteijn, & Arrindell, 2005), elevated selfconfidence, better communication skills (Guerrero, 1996), and a higher tendency for selfdisclosure (Sampthirao, 2016).”
From THE ROLE OF INTIMACY, BELONGING, SELF-ESTEEM INTHE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN ANXIOUS, AVOIDANT ATTACHMENT AND FORGIVENESS AMONG MARRIED IRANIAN WOMEN (2021) · cites this paper as Simpson & Rholes, 2017
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“Rumination is associated with negative emotional experiences in relationships [19], challenges resolving conflict [22], and increased rates of emotional distress and psychopathology [21].”
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“This may reflect both genuine concern and excessive attunement to the partner, often linked to anxious attachment (Simpson & Rholes, 2017).”
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“Both patterns intensify relationship difficulties and reduce relationship quality (Simpson & Rholes, 2017).”
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“” In such cases, avoidantly attached individuals appear to suppress their distress and engage in compulsive self-reliance to protect themselves against rejection or vulnerability (Simpson and Rholes, 2017).”
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Shenbakam, N., Karalam, S. R. B., & Francis, A. (2025) · Springer eBooks · doi:10.1007/978-981-95-2333-7_12
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“The attachment system is an innate biological mechanism that has evolved to ensure human survival into reproductive age (Simpson & Rholes, 2017).”
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“According to the attachment diathesis-stress process model , acute stress can be the trigger for attachment system, which further leads to more attachment behaviors and more sensitive perception of partner or situation (Bowlby, 1978; Simpson & Rholes, 2017).”
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Attachment styles and defense mechanisms as predictors of marital satisfaction in Iranian couples
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“Individuals with this style often seek excessive closeness to feel secure, but these efforts - known as hyperactivation strategies–can intensify emotional demands and conflict (Mikulincer and Shaver, 2012; Simpson and Rholes, 2017).”
Ercengiz, M., Aka, P., & Şata, M. (2026) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-026-09292-2
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Lisá, E., & Greškovičová, K. (2026) · Current Psychology · doi:10.1007/s12144-026-09288-y
“Preoccupied trust may instead reflect dependency-driven idealization aimed at reducing attachment anxiety (Simpson & Rholes, 2017 ).”
Olar, B. M., Treur, R. M., Hendrikse, S. C. F., & Jan Treur, A. (2026) · Cognitive Systems Research · doi:10.1016/j.cogsys.2026.101470
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Sreedevi, J., Barman, J. D., & Maheshwari, S. (2026) · Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy · doi:10.1080/0092623x.2026.2660092
“This mechanism enhances the closeness between the vulnerable individual and the caregiver (Simpson & Rholes, 2017).”
Personality traits and interpersonal relationships in adults with different attachment styles
Filshtinskaya, E. G., & Владимировна, А. М. (2026) · Uchenye zapiski universiteta imeni P F Lesgafta · doi:10.5930/1994-4683-2026-5-207-214
Daughters promote pair-bonding in fathers in modern Western cultures
Duarte, K. I., Durante, K. M., Gassen, J., Reed, A., Rholes, S. W., & Simpson, J. A. (2026) · Personality and Individual Differences · doi:10.1016/j.paid.2026.113901
Self-citationEvli Bireylerde Bağlanma Stilleri ve Evlilik Doyumu Arasındaki İlişki
Kaya, B., & Çankaya, S. (2026) · Yaşam Becerileri Psikoloji Dergisi · doi:10.31461/ybpd.1850232
Bok, S., Shum, J., & Lee, M. (2026) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs16071113
“Insecurely attached individuals form psychological defense systems to mask feelings of unmet social needs (Simpson & Rholes, 2017).”
Ahmeti, A., & Stankovska, G. (2026) · The Open Psychology Journal · doi:10.2174/0118743501476218260622061635
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Ritrovare l'intimità: un modello integrato per comprendere e trattare i problemi sessuali
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The Emotional Toll of Phubbing: Analyzing its Effects on Intimacy and Communication in Relationships
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“The divergence of the present results from prior research may be linked to the coping behaviours typically adopted by avoidant individuals, such as avoiding intimacy and emotional closeness (Simpson & Rholes, 2017).”
Oliver, J., & Pedro-Viejo, A. B. (2026) · The Family Journal · doi:10.1177/10664807261483727
Li, C., Liang, X., Xu, S., Zheng, P., & Lyu, Z. (2026) · Behavioral Sciences · doi:10.3390/bs16091515
“Kural and Özyurt (2023) found that individuals with high attachment anxiety report higher perceived stress, which may be related to hyperactivating coping strategies and negative attributional styles (Simpson & Rholes, 2017).”
Role of Adult Romantic Attachment in Psychological Distress Among Pregnant Women
Zahra, M. N. A., & Fourianalistyawati, E. (2026) · Journal Psikogenesis · doi:10.24854/jps.v14i1.6270
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Kapisiz, S. G., KAPLAN, A., Özdemir, E. A., Çabuk, G., Yılmaz, C. I., & Şentürk, S. (2026) · The Family Journal · doi:10.1177/10664807261483708
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“Their feelings of being “phubbed” further intensify these negative views, as they tend to believe that psychological or emotional closeness is either unattainable or undesirable (Simpson & Rholes, 2017).”
Kalkan, F. T., Taşkum, İ., Sucu, F., Keklikcioglu, I., Poyraz, D., Sınacı, S., & Türkçüoğlu, İ. (2026) · Journal of Clinical Medicine · doi:10.3390/jcm15186953
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Sharma, T. (2026) · Pacific Journal of Modern Theories and Research · doi:10.66629/pj0013
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“In contrast, attachment avoidance is characterized by discomfort with closeness, emotional distancing, and a tendency to suppress dependency needs (Eilert and Buchheim, 2023; Mikulincer and Shaver, 2019; Simpson and Rholes, 2017).”
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Cacio, R., & Bobova, L. (2026) · Journal of Feminist Family Therapy · doi:10.1080/08952833.2026.2744445
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Adjani, N. F., Dimala, C. P., & Mustika, H. (2026) · Psikoborneo Jurnal Ilmiah Psikologi · doi:10.30872/v1dtjj91
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Metadata
- Authors
- Simpson, J. A., & Rholes, W. S.
- Affiliations
- University of Minnesota (US)
- Texas A&M University (US)
- Corresponding author
- Simpson, Jeffry A
- Rholes, W Steven
- Venue
- Current Opinion in Psychology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2017-02
- Volume
- 13
- Pages
- 19-24
- ISSN
- 2352-250X (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC4845754
- OpenAlex
- W2336040666
- Cited by
- 362
- References
- 55
- Citations by year
- 2026: 49 · 2025: 51 · 2024: 67 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 38 · 2021: 40 · 2020: 40 · 2019: 18 · 2018: 10 · 2017: 2
- FWCI
- 1.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Current Opinion in Psychology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01-MH49599)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Anxiety, Depression, Psychometrics, Treatment, Cognitive Processes
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychoanalysis and Psychopathology Research
- Keywords
- adult attachment, insecure attachment, romantic relationships, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, emotion regulation, stress, diathesis-stress model, chronic stress, acute stress
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Anxiety, Humans, Interpersonal Relations, Love, Models, Psychological, Object Attachment, Stress, Psychological
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