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02:11

8 Signs of Anxious Attachment in Adults

Anxious attachment style starts in childhood, but it can affect your relationships for years to come.

Sophia KellerKaren Hovav, MD, FAAP
Written by Sophia Keller | Reviewed by Karen Hovav, MD, FAAP
Updated on May 13, 2025

Adults with an anxious attachment style tend to be afraid of rejection and abandonment, and they may be overly clingy and need a lot of reassurance. This can really affect their relationships and their mental health.

In this video, learn common signs of anxious attachment style in adults. You can read more about attachment styles here.

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References

Carnelley, K. B., et al. (2019). Attachment and prejudice. Current Opinion in Psychology

Kural, A. I., et al. (2022). The role of anxious attachment in the continuation of abusive relationships: The potential for strengthening a secure attachment schema as a tool of empowerment. Acta Psychologica

View All References (3)

Levy, K. N., et al. (2018). Adult attachment as a predictor and moderator of psychotherapy outcome: A meta-analysis. Journal of Clinical Psychology

Liu, C., et al. (2019). Adult attachment style, emotional regulation, and social networking sites addiction. Frontiers in Psychology

Pietromonaco, P. R., et al. (2019). Adult attachment and physical health. Current Opinion in Psychology.

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