New research suggests a surprising factor may be interfering with a good night’s rest: relationship insecurity. A study published in the journal SLEEP found that anxious attachment styles are linked to worse sleep quality, and that poor sleep can in turn increase feelings of jealousy.
The study involved 68 young adults who completed questionnaires about their sleep habits and relationships. Participants also provided daily self-reports for two weeks detailing their emotions and behaviors. Researchers wanted to see if attachment style, a behavioral pattern in relationships, affected sleep.
Anxious attachment is characterized by a deep fear of abandonment. People with this style often feel insecure in relationships and need more validation. The researchers hypothesized that the interpersonal conflict and emotional changes common in anxious relationships might lead to sleep problems.
The results showed that anxious attachment can affect sleep. The study also found that sleep disturbances were linked to more envy and jealousy in social relationships, but only for those with higher levels of relationship anxiety. The authors called these findings early evidence that sleep’s impact on emotions may vary based on attachment style. They added that people with insecure attachment may be most at risk for the social and emotional effects of poor sleep.
Study co-author Giovanni Alvarado said in a news release that people with anxious attachment or insecurity in relationships may be especially vulnerable to feelings of envy and jealousy when they are sleep-deprived. He noted that this helps explain why some people have more difficulty in 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 say it is possible to work toward a more secure attachment style with professional help. Recognizing when anxious attachment is triggered is an important first step. Building secure attachment takes patience and mindfulness. The study also suggests that getting enough quality sleep is important.
Basic sleep hygiene includes going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, keeping the bedroom cool and dark, and using a quality sleep supplement. The connection between relationship insecurity and sleep is well known to those who experience it. Understanding this link can help people take new approaches to both their attachment style and their sleep habits.
