How secure an individual feels in a relationship could impact his or her health.
According to a new study, individuals with high levels of attachment anxiety produce an average of 11 percent more cortisol and 11 to 22 percent more T-cells than individuals with less attachment anxiety.
“Individuals with high levels of attachment anxiety
produce an average of 11 percent more cortisol.”
Jaremka was specifically looking to measure what’s known as “attachment anxiety,” a psychological state where an individual requires constant reassurance and feels extreme concerns about being rejected.
In the biological portion of the study, Jaremka measured each participant’s T-cell levels and levels of cortisol, a hormone released during times of stress.
While the study’s results bode poorly for those who suffer from feelings of relationship anxiety, Jaremka noted these feelings are constantly changing.
“Most research that does exist in this area supports the idea that being in very caring, loving, close relationships might be a catalyst to change from being very anxious to not,” she said.
Source: Psychological Science. Photo source: chicagophoenix.com.
