Unhealthy love: Associations with attachment styles and noological resources

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of attachment experiences and noological resources (self-distancing and self-transcendence) with unhealthy ways to love. Young adults (N= 505) completed questionnaires assessing the above variables. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlation and hierarchic multiple regression. Results indicated that insecure attachment experiences explained an important amount of the variance of unhealthy ways to love in adulthood. In addition, noological resources accounted significantly for variation beyond the mentioned factors. In conclusion, individuals with goals and purposes in their life and with the capacity of maintaining distances from their thoughts and emotions are less likely to suffer unhealthy ways to love, independently of their attachment style.