#psychologicalflexibility — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #psychologicalflexibility, aggregated by home.social.
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DATE: July 30, 2026 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Psilocybin-assisted therapy shows promise for veterans with severe, treatment-resistant PTSD
A new study provides evidence that psilocybin combined with psychotherapy can safely reduce symptoms for military veterans suffering from severe, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder. The findings suggest this approach tends to offer meaningful relief for individuals who have not responded to standard therapies. The research was recently published in the journal Communications Medicine.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD, is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Symptoms often include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the trauma. Patients also frequently experience avoidance behaviors and negative changes in mood. Among military veterans, this condition tends to be more severe, chronic, and difficult to treat than in the general public.
Many veterans do not respond to standard psychological therapies or traditional medications like antidepressants. This lack of effective options often leaves them with long-term disability and a heightened risk of suicide. Seeking better solutions, a research team explored the potential of psilocybin, which is the primary psychoactive compound found in certain species of mushrooms. When taken in a controlled clinical setting with psychological support, this substance induces profound alterations in perception and mood that might help individuals process traumatic memories.
The research team was led by Stacey B. Armstrong and Alan K. Davis from the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education at The Ohio State University. They designed a clinical trial to evaluate whether this combined approach is safe and effective for veterans specifically. By pairing the drug with intensive psychological support, the scientists aimed to disrupt the underlying emotional maintenance processes that keep patients locked in cycles of trauma.
This new project builds on a growing foundation of previous research indicating the benefits of psychedelic treatments. For example, a previous survey study led by Davis found that psychedelics tend to increase a trait known as psychological flexibility. This concept refers to a person’s ability to stay connected to the present moment and manage difficult emotions without avoiding them. In that survey of over two thousand individuals, increases in psychological flexibility were linked to decreases in depression and anxiety.
Another previous study, authored by Armstrong, looked at 45 United States Special Operations Forces veterans who received treatments in Mexico. These veterans were given ibogaine, a compound derived from an African shrub, alongside a psychedelic substance known as 5-MeO-DMT. That research provided evidence for significant reductions in both alcohol misuse and trauma symptoms. The veterans also demonstrated notable improvements in cognitive functioning that persisted for at least six months.
Additionally, Davis recently co-authored a long-term follow-up study on patients who received psilocybin therapy for major depressive disorder. Five years after the initial clinical trial, 67 percent of the participants were still in remission from their depression. The researchers noted that the treatment seemed to fundamentally shift how patients related to their depressive symptoms. Even when patients faced new emotional hurdles, they reported that their depression felt more situational and manageable.
To test the psilocybin approach in a new group, the scientists recruited 12 military veterans for an 11-week pilot study. Each participant suffered from severe PTSD that had not responded to standard medical and psychological treatments. The group included nine men and three women, with an average age of about 38 years. Eight of the participants were married and living with a spouse.
The treatment protocol involved roughly 16 hours of psychotherapy spread across multiple visits. Participants first completed eight hours of preparation therapy to build trust with the clinicians and learn grounding techniques. The preparation phase was designed to help the veterans set intentions and mentally prepare for the intense effects of the drug.
Following the preparation phase, the veterans completed two separate dosing sessions spaced two to three weeks apart. During the first session, they received a 15-milligram dose of synthetic psilocybin. In the second session, they received a higher 25-milligram dose.
Two facilitators stayed in the room for the entire eight-hour drug experience to monitor vital signs and provide emotional support. The participants were encouraged to wear eyeshades and listen to music. This setup allowed them to focus inward on their thoughts and emotions during the acute effects of the medication.
The days after each dosing session included integration therapy, where the clinicians helped the veterans process what they experienced. This step is intended to help the patients apply any psychological insights they gained to their daily lives.
The researchers found the treatment to be safe and well-tolerated by the veterans. No serious adverse events occurred at any point during the trial. The participants’ heart rates and blood pressures remained within safe limits during the dosing sessions. The most common minor side effects were mild headaches, brief anxiety, and dizziness, all of which resolved on their own.
In terms of clinical outcomes, the scientists observed large and statistically significant reductions in trauma symptoms. At a one-month follow-up assessment, 75 percent of the participants no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. On a standardized clinical rating scale, the average symptom severity score dropped by 27.5 points.
The research team also monitored the participants for suicidal thoughts and behaviors throughout the trial. They found no increase in suicidal ideation during the study. By the one-month follow-up, 75 percent of the veterans reported no suicidal thoughts at all, and the remaining reports were classified as passive.
The scientists also noted that the veterans showed some symptom improvement during the preparation therapy phase, even before taking the drug. This provides evidence that the psychological support itself plays a supportive role in the healing process. The researchers also tested whether the participants’ expectations for the treatment influenced their outcomes.
They found that a person’s belief in how well the therapy would work did not predict their actual symptom reduction. This suggests that the positive changes were likely driven by the treatment itself rather than by placebo expectations.
These initial findings offer a promising look at a new therapy, but there are several limitations to keep in mind. The pilot study relied on a very small sample size of only 12 participants and did not include a control group. Because everyone knew they were receiving the active drug, the expectations and the intense support provided might have influenced the outcomes. The observed symptom reductions cannot be strictly proven to be caused by the psilocybin alone.
The highly screened nature of the participants also means the results might not apply to all veterans. Individuals with a history of serious suicide attempts or specific psychotic disorders were excluded from the trial for safety reasons. The follow-up period was also limited to just one month, leaving questions about the long-term durability of these specific results.
Future research needs to include larger groups of participants who are randomly assigned to receive either the active treatment or a placebo. This type of blinded study would help clarify exactly how much of the improvement is due to the chemical effects of the drug versus the therapy itself. Scientists also hope to investigate how biological changes in the brain correspond to the psychological relief reported by the patients.
Additional trials might explore whether combining this intervention with other established psychological treatments could yield even better outcomes. Understanding how this substance interacts with different symptom profiles will help clinicians tailor the approach to individual needs. Expanding the diversity of the participants will also be necessary to ensure the therapy is safe and effective for a wider population.
The study, “Safety, feasibility, and preliminary clinical outcomes of psilocybin-assisted therapy for veterans with severe, treatment-resistant PTSD: an open-label pilot clinical trial,” was authored by Stacey B. Armstrong, Adam W. Levin, Nathan D. Sepeda, Hillary Shaub, Taweh Hunter, Angela Douglas, Rafaelle Lancelotta, and Alan K. Davis.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PsilocybinTherapy #PTSDRecovery #VeteransHealth #MentalHealthInnovation #PsychedelicResearch #TraumaHealing # PTSDTreatment #OpenLabelTrial #PsychologicalFlexibility #SafetyFeasibility
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DATE: July 30, 2026 at 10:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Psilocybin-assisted therapy shows promise for veterans with severe, treatment-resistant PTSD
A new study provides evidence that psilocybin combined with psychotherapy can safely reduce symptoms for military veterans suffering from severe, treatment-resistant post-traumatic stress disorder. The findings suggest this approach tends to offer meaningful relief for individuals who have not responded to standard therapies. The research was recently published in the journal Communications Medicine.
Post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD, is a mental health condition triggered by experiencing or witnessing a terrifying event. Symptoms often include flashbacks, nightmares, severe anxiety, and uncontrollable thoughts about the trauma. Patients also frequently experience avoidance behaviors and negative changes in mood. Among military veterans, this condition tends to be more severe, chronic, and difficult to treat than in the general public.
Many veterans do not respond to standard psychological therapies or traditional medications like antidepressants. This lack of effective options often leaves them with long-term disability and a heightened risk of suicide. Seeking better solutions, a research team explored the potential of psilocybin, which is the primary psychoactive compound found in certain species of mushrooms. When taken in a controlled clinical setting with psychological support, this substance induces profound alterations in perception and mood that might help individuals process traumatic memories.
The research team was led by Stacey B. Armstrong and Alan K. Davis from the Center for Psychedelic Drug Research and Education at The Ohio State University. They designed a clinical trial to evaluate whether this combined approach is safe and effective for veterans specifically. By pairing the drug with intensive psychological support, the scientists aimed to disrupt the underlying emotional maintenance processes that keep patients locked in cycles of trauma.
This new project builds on a growing foundation of previous research indicating the benefits of psychedelic treatments. For example, a previous survey study led by Davis found that psychedelics tend to increase a trait known as psychological flexibility. This concept refers to a person’s ability to stay connected to the present moment and manage difficult emotions without avoiding them. In that survey of over two thousand individuals, increases in psychological flexibility were linked to decreases in depression and anxiety.
Another previous study, authored by Armstrong, looked at 45 United States Special Operations Forces veterans who received treatments in Mexico. These veterans were given ibogaine, a compound derived from an African shrub, alongside a psychedelic substance known as 5-MeO-DMT. That research provided evidence for significant reductions in both alcohol misuse and trauma symptoms. The veterans also demonstrated notable improvements in cognitive functioning that persisted for at least six months.
Additionally, Davis recently co-authored a long-term follow-up study on patients who received psilocybin therapy for major depressive disorder. Five years after the initial clinical trial, 67 percent of the participants were still in remission from their depression. The researchers noted that the treatment seemed to fundamentally shift how patients related to their depressive symptoms. Even when patients faced new emotional hurdles, they reported that their depression felt more situational and manageable.
To test the psilocybin approach in a new group, the scientists recruited 12 military veterans for an 11-week pilot study. Each participant suffered from severe PTSD that had not responded to standard medical and psychological treatments. The group included nine men and three women, with an average age of about 38 years. Eight of the participants were married and living with a spouse.
The treatment protocol involved roughly 16 hours of psychotherapy spread across multiple visits. Participants first completed eight hours of preparation therapy to build trust with the clinicians and learn grounding techniques. The preparation phase was designed to help the veterans set intentions and mentally prepare for the intense effects of the drug.
Following the preparation phase, the veterans completed two separate dosing sessions spaced two to three weeks apart. During the first session, they received a 15-milligram dose of synthetic psilocybin. In the second session, they received a higher 25-milligram dose.
Two facilitators stayed in the room for the entire eight-hour drug experience to monitor vital signs and provide emotional support. The participants were encouraged to wear eyeshades and listen to music. This setup allowed them to focus inward on their thoughts and emotions during the acute effects of the medication.
The days after each dosing session included integration therapy, where the clinicians helped the veterans process what they experienced. This step is intended to help the patients apply any psychological insights they gained to their daily lives.
The researchers found the treatment to be safe and well-tolerated by the veterans. No serious adverse events occurred at any point during the trial. The participants’ heart rates and blood pressures remained within safe limits during the dosing sessions. The most common minor side effects were mild headaches, brief anxiety, and dizziness, all of which resolved on their own.
In terms of clinical outcomes, the scientists observed large and statistically significant reductions in trauma symptoms. At a one-month follow-up assessment, 75 percent of the participants no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. On a standardized clinical rating scale, the average symptom severity score dropped by 27.5 points.
The research team also monitored the participants for suicidal thoughts and behaviors throughout the trial. They found no increase in suicidal ideation during the study. By the one-month follow-up, 75 percent of the veterans reported no suicidal thoughts at all, and the remaining reports were classified as passive.
The scientists also noted that the veterans showed some symptom improvement during the preparation therapy phase, even before taking the drug. This provides evidence that the psychological support itself plays a supportive role in the healing process. The researchers also tested whether the participants’ expectations for the treatment influenced their outcomes.
They found that a person’s belief in how well the therapy would work did not predict their actual symptom reduction. This suggests that the positive changes were likely driven by the treatment itself rather than by placebo expectations.
These initial findings offer a promising look at a new therapy, but there are several limitations to keep in mind. The pilot study relied on a very small sample size of only 12 participants and did not include a control group. Because everyone knew they were receiving the active drug, the expectations and the intense support provided might have influenced the outcomes. The observed symptom reductions cannot be strictly proven to be caused by the psilocybin alone.
The highly screened nature of the participants also means the results might not apply to all veterans. Individuals with a history of serious suicide attempts or specific psychotic disorders were excluded from the trial for safety reasons. The follow-up period was also limited to just one month, leaving questions about the long-term durability of these specific results.
Future research needs to include larger groups of participants who are randomly assigned to receive either the active treatment or a placebo. This type of blinded study would help clarify exactly how much of the improvement is due to the chemical effects of the drug versus the therapy itself. Scientists also hope to investigate how biological changes in the brain correspond to the psychological relief reported by the patients.
Additional trials might explore whether combining this intervention with other established psychological treatments could yield even better outcomes. Understanding how this substance interacts with different symptom profiles will help clinicians tailor the approach to individual needs. Expanding the diversity of the participants will also be necessary to ensure the therapy is safe and effective for a wider population.
The study, “Safety, feasibility, and preliminary clinical outcomes of psilocybin-assisted therapy for veterans with severe, treatment-resistant PTSD: an open-label pilot clinical trial,” was authored by Stacey B. Armstrong, Adam W. Levin, Nathan D. Sepeda, Hillary Shaub, Taweh Hunter, Angela Douglas, Rafaelle Lancelotta, and Alan K. Davis.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #PsilocybinTherapy #PTSDRecovery #VeteransHealth #MentalHealthInnovation #PsychedelicResearch #TraumaHealing # PTSDTreatment #OpenLabelTrial #PsychologicalFlexibility #SafetyFeasibility
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DATE: July 12, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Are you at risk for romantic addiction? The answer lies in your attachment style, psychological flexibility, and emotion regulation
Recent research published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships provides evidence that our early relationship blueprints shape our risk of developing an addiction to our romantic partners through two specific psychological processes. The findings suggest that the ability to remain psychologically flexible and regulate emotions serves as a bridge between a person’s attachment style and their likelihood of experiencing compulsive, unhealthy relationship dynamics.
People bring deep-seated emotional blueprints into their adult romantic relationships. These blueprints, known in psychology as attachment styles, develop during early childhood interactions with primary caregivers. The resulting attachment styles function as internal working models that guide a person’s expectations, emotional responses, and coping strategies when they become close to others.
A secure attachment style tends to emerge when caregivers are consistently responsive, leading to a sense of emotional safety and an ability to balance intimacy with independence. An anxious attachment style often stems from unpredictable or inconsistent caregiving. This pattern usually results in a persistent fear of abandonment, emotional volatility, and a constant need for reassurance from a partner.
An avoidant attachment style typically develops when caregivers are emotionally distant or rejecting. This prompts an individual to prioritize extreme self-reliance and avoid emotional closeness. While these styles guide how people navigate intimacy, they do not automatically dictate relationship success or failure.
Scientists recognize that some individuals develop a pattern known as addiction in romantic relationships. This condition involves an intense, overwhelming preoccupation with a partner that goes beyond typical romantic affection. The behavior mirrors elements of behavioral addictions, including experiencing extreme distress or withdrawal symptoms when separated from a partner.
“In romantic relationships, when the drive to maintain closeness becomes rigid and compulsive, it can shift toward boundary violations and relationship addiction, undermining well-being,” said study authors Berfin Seven, a psychological counselor at Sinop University, and Osman Hatun, an associate professor at Marmara University in Türkiye. “While attachment styles are known to influence these dynamics, we wanted to address a crucial gap: how these childhood-rooted attachment vulnerabilities translate into romantic relationship addiction (ARR) in adulthood.”
To understand how attachment styles might lead to this dependency, researchers examined two internal coping mechanisms. The first mechanism is psychological flexibility, a concept rooted in acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies. Psychological flexibility refers to a person’s capacity to stay open to difficult thoughts and feelings while acting in ways that align with their personal values.
In a romantic context, this means tolerating relationship discomfort, like an argument or a moment of uncertainty, without resorting to destructive or impulsive behaviors. The second mechanism is emotion regulation, which involves the ability to identify, understand, and manage emotional reactions. People who experience difficulties in emotion regulation often struggle to accept negative feelings and find it hard to calm themselves down.
The researchers proposed a specific sequence to explain unhealthy relationship dependencies, predicting that a person’s attachment style influences their psychological flexibility, which then affects their ability to regulate emotions. “We examined psychological flexibility and emotion regulation difficulties as sequential, cognitive-affective mediators to map this pathway,” the authors noted. “Additionally, we wanted to test the cross-cultural robustness of these models in a non-Western population (Türkiye), which acts as a ‘cultural bridge’ between individualistic and collectivist values, helping move psychology research beyond purely WEIRD samples.”
WEIRD refers to research populations that are Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic. To explore these concepts in a different cultural context, the scientists recruited 522 adults from Türkiye through online community groups and social media platforms. The participants ranged in age from 18 to 55 years old, with an average age of about 29.
The group consisted of 359 females and 163 males from various educational backgrounds. At the time of the study, all participants were currently involved in a romantic relationship. About two-thirds of the sample reported being in a dating relationship, while the remaining one-third reported being married.
Participants completed an online survey containing four specific psychological questionnaires. The researchers embedded attention checks within the survey to catch random or careless responding. To measure relationship blueprints, the survey used the Three-Dimensional Attachment Style Scale, which scores a person’s tendencies toward secure, anxious, and avoidant patterns.
The scientists measured psychological flexibility using the Psychological Flexibility in Romantic Relationships Scale. This questionnaire asks participants to rate how well they accept different emotions and evaluate problems within their specific relationship. To assess how well participants managed their feelings, the study utilized the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-8.
Finally, the researchers used the Addiction in Romantic Relationships Scale to measure compulsive relational behaviors. This assessment looks for signs of extreme devotion, withdrawal symptoms during separation, and obsessive thoughts about the partner. Using a statistical technique called serial mediation path analysis, they found a specific chain of psychological events connecting attachment styles to relationship addiction.
Secure attachment was associated with higher levels of psychological flexibility. In turn, this increased flexibility was linked to fewer difficulties in regulating emotions. With better emotion regulation, securely attached individuals showed a significantly lower risk of developing an addiction to their romantic relationship.
An anxious attachment style set off a very different psychological chain reaction. Anxious attachment was linked to lower psychological flexibility, meaning these individuals struggled more to tolerate difficult thoughts and feelings. This lower flexibility was then associated with greater difficulties in managing and regulating negative emotions, increasing the likelihood of experiencing relationship addiction.
Interestingly, the researchers did not find a direct link between an avoidant attachment style and relationship addiction. “We were particularly interested to find that avoidant attachment was not significantly associated with romantic relationship addiction,” the researchers explained. “While it is an insecure attachment style, avoidant individuals’ typical discomfort with closeness, emotional suppression, and strong preference for self-reliance seem to naturally deter them from the compulsive, preoccupied, and dependency-based behaviors that characterize relationship addiction.”
The findings suggest that anxiously attached individuals might rely on their partner as an external tool to manage their own distress, which can escalate into a compulsive dependency. “The main takeaway is that romantic relationship addiction is not simply about ‘loving too much’: it is often a dependency-based coping mechanism used to manage internal distress,” the authors said. “Our study shows that individuals with a secure attachment base develop higher psychological flexibility and better emotional regulation, which naturally protects them from relationship addiction.”
“Conversely, those with anxious attachment are more vulnerable to relationship addiction because they tend to have lower psychological flexibility and greater difficulty managing their emotions independently,” they added. “Ultimately, building healthier relationships requires us to work on our own psychological flexibility (staying open to difficult thoughts/emotions and acting on our values) and emotional regulation, rather than relying solely on our partner as an external self-soothing tool.”
While attachment styles form early in life, the specific skills needed to overcome relationship addiction can be learned and improved. “In our models, secure and anxious attachment, alongside our mediators, explained 20% and 23% of the variance in romantic relationship addiction, respectively,” the authors explained. “While adult attachment styles are relatively stable and hard to change, the practical significance lies in our mediators: psychological flexibility and difficulties in emotion regulation.”
“These are malleable cognitive-affective processes,” the researchers continued. “This means that clinical interventions, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and targeted emotion regulation training, can be highly effective in helping individuals break free from compulsive relationship dynamics by strengthening these specific skills.”
The findings also provide support for the idea that these emotional mechanisms operate similarly across different global populations. “We believe that testing these models in non-Western contexts is critical,” the authors said. “By showing that our serial mediation model remains robust in Türkiye, our findings suggest that the cognitive-affective pathways from attachment insecurity to relationship addiction are fundamental psychological processes that transcend Western cultural boundaries.”
A potential misunderstanding of the study is the assumption that deep love or passion is inherently problematic. “A common misinterpretation we would like to preempt is pathologizing intense passion or deep emotional investment in a relationship as an ‘addiction’,” the researchers warned. “Healthy devotion involves flexibility and mutual support, whereas relationship addiction is characterized by loss of control, compulsive maintenance despite harm, and significant daily impairment.”
The research does come with certain limitations, including its reliance on self-reported online surveys. The study uses a cross-sectional design, meaning all data was collected at a single point in time. “As a caveat, our study is cross-sectional, meaning the data was collected at a single point in time,” the authors noted. “Therefore, we cannot establish direct cause-and-effect relationships. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the temporal order of these pathways.”
The sample was also heavily female and consisted entirely of volunteers, which might not represent the general population perfectly. Future research will aim to track these psychological changes over time to better establish how relationships evolve. “Moving forward, we aim to conduct longitudinal and experimental studies to clarify the causal directions of these relationships,” the researchers said.
“We also hope to develop and test brief, attachment-informed skills-based prevention programs, incorporating ACT-based tools and emotion regulation strategies, to see if they can effectively reduce relationship dependency in community and educational settings,” they concluded. “Additionally, we want to transition to dyadic research designs that collect data from both partners to capture relationship-level dynamics.”
The study, “The Pathway From Attachment Styles to Addiction in Romantic Relationships: The Mediating Roles of Psychological Flexibility and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation,” was authored by Osman Hatun and Berfin Seven.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
-------------------------------------------------
#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AttachmentStyles #RomanticRelationships #RelationshipAddiction #PsychologicalFlexibility #Emotion Regulation # ACTTherapy #MindfulnessInRelationships #NonWesternResearch #LoveAndAttachment #HealthyRelationshipSkills
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DATE: July 12, 2026 at 06:00AM
SOURCE: PSYPOST.ORG** Research quality varies widely from fantastic to small exploratory studies. Please check research methods when conclusions are very important to you. **
-------------------------------------------------TITLE: Are you at risk for romantic addiction? The answer lies in your attachment style, psychological flexibility, and emotion regulation
Recent research published in the Journal of Social and Personal Relationships provides evidence that our early relationship blueprints shape our risk of developing an addiction to our romantic partners through two specific psychological processes. The findings suggest that the ability to remain psychologically flexible and regulate emotions serves as a bridge between a person’s attachment style and their likelihood of experiencing compulsive, unhealthy relationship dynamics.
People bring deep-seated emotional blueprints into their adult romantic relationships. These blueprints, known in psychology as attachment styles, develop during early childhood interactions with primary caregivers. The resulting attachment styles function as internal working models that guide a person’s expectations, emotional responses, and coping strategies when they become close to others.
A secure attachment style tends to emerge when caregivers are consistently responsive, leading to a sense of emotional safety and an ability to balance intimacy with independence. An anxious attachment style often stems from unpredictable or inconsistent caregiving. This pattern usually results in a persistent fear of abandonment, emotional volatility, and a constant need for reassurance from a partner.
An avoidant attachment style typically develops when caregivers are emotionally distant or rejecting. This prompts an individual to prioritize extreme self-reliance and avoid emotional closeness. While these styles guide how people navigate intimacy, they do not automatically dictate relationship success or failure.
Scientists recognize that some individuals develop a pattern known as addiction in romantic relationships. This condition involves an intense, overwhelming preoccupation with a partner that goes beyond typical romantic affection. The behavior mirrors elements of behavioral addictions, including experiencing extreme distress or withdrawal symptoms when separated from a partner.
“In romantic relationships, when the drive to maintain closeness becomes rigid and compulsive, it can shift toward boundary violations and relationship addiction, undermining well-being,” said study authors Berfin Seven, a psychological counselor at Sinop University, and Osman Hatun, an associate professor at Marmara University in Türkiye. “While attachment styles are known to influence these dynamics, we wanted to address a crucial gap: how these childhood-rooted attachment vulnerabilities translate into romantic relationship addiction (ARR) in adulthood.”
To understand how attachment styles might lead to this dependency, researchers examined two internal coping mechanisms. The first mechanism is psychological flexibility, a concept rooted in acceptance and mindfulness-based therapies. Psychological flexibility refers to a person’s capacity to stay open to difficult thoughts and feelings while acting in ways that align with their personal values.
In a romantic context, this means tolerating relationship discomfort, like an argument or a moment of uncertainty, without resorting to destructive or impulsive behaviors. The second mechanism is emotion regulation, which involves the ability to identify, understand, and manage emotional reactions. People who experience difficulties in emotion regulation often struggle to accept negative feelings and find it hard to calm themselves down.
The researchers proposed a specific sequence to explain unhealthy relationship dependencies, predicting that a person’s attachment style influences their psychological flexibility, which then affects their ability to regulate emotions. “We examined psychological flexibility and emotion regulation difficulties as sequential, cognitive-affective mediators to map this pathway,” the authors noted. “Additionally, we wanted to test the cross-cultural robustness of these models in a non-Western population (Türkiye), which acts as a ‘cultural bridge’ between individualistic and collectivist values, helping move psychology research beyond purely WEIRD samples.”
WEIRD refers to research populations that are Western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic. To explore these concepts in a different cultural context, the scientists recruited 522 adults from Türkiye through online community groups and social media platforms. The participants ranged in age from 18 to 55 years old, with an average age of about 29.
The group consisted of 359 females and 163 males from various educational backgrounds. At the time of the study, all participants were currently involved in a romantic relationship. About two-thirds of the sample reported being in a dating relationship, while the remaining one-third reported being married.
Participants completed an online survey containing four specific psychological questionnaires. The researchers embedded attention checks within the survey to catch random or careless responding. To measure relationship blueprints, the survey used the Three-Dimensional Attachment Style Scale, which scores a person’s tendencies toward secure, anxious, and avoidant patterns.
The scientists measured psychological flexibility using the Psychological Flexibility in Romantic Relationships Scale. This questionnaire asks participants to rate how well they accept different emotions and evaluate problems within their specific relationship. To assess how well participants managed their feelings, the study utilized the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-8.
Finally, the researchers used the Addiction in Romantic Relationships Scale to measure compulsive relational behaviors. This assessment looks for signs of extreme devotion, withdrawal symptoms during separation, and obsessive thoughts about the partner. Using a statistical technique called serial mediation path analysis, they found a specific chain of psychological events connecting attachment styles to relationship addiction.
Secure attachment was associated with higher levels of psychological flexibility. In turn, this increased flexibility was linked to fewer difficulties in regulating emotions. With better emotion regulation, securely attached individuals showed a significantly lower risk of developing an addiction to their romantic relationship.
An anxious attachment style set off a very different psychological chain reaction. Anxious attachment was linked to lower psychological flexibility, meaning these individuals struggled more to tolerate difficult thoughts and feelings. This lower flexibility was then associated with greater difficulties in managing and regulating negative emotions, increasing the likelihood of experiencing relationship addiction.
Interestingly, the researchers did not find a direct link between an avoidant attachment style and relationship addiction. “We were particularly interested to find that avoidant attachment was not significantly associated with romantic relationship addiction,” the researchers explained. “While it is an insecure attachment style, avoidant individuals’ typical discomfort with closeness, emotional suppression, and strong preference for self-reliance seem to naturally deter them from the compulsive, preoccupied, and dependency-based behaviors that characterize relationship addiction.”
The findings suggest that anxiously attached individuals might rely on their partner as an external tool to manage their own distress, which can escalate into a compulsive dependency. “The main takeaway is that romantic relationship addiction is not simply about ‘loving too much’: it is often a dependency-based coping mechanism used to manage internal distress,” the authors said. “Our study shows that individuals with a secure attachment base develop higher psychological flexibility and better emotional regulation, which naturally protects them from relationship addiction.”
“Conversely, those with anxious attachment are more vulnerable to relationship addiction because they tend to have lower psychological flexibility and greater difficulty managing their emotions independently,” they added. “Ultimately, building healthier relationships requires us to work on our own psychological flexibility (staying open to difficult thoughts/emotions and acting on our values) and emotional regulation, rather than relying solely on our partner as an external self-soothing tool.”
While attachment styles form early in life, the specific skills needed to overcome relationship addiction can be learned and improved. “In our models, secure and anxious attachment, alongside our mediators, explained 20% and 23% of the variance in romantic relationship addiction, respectively,” the authors explained. “While adult attachment styles are relatively stable and hard to change, the practical significance lies in our mediators: psychological flexibility and difficulties in emotion regulation.”
“These are malleable cognitive-affective processes,” the researchers continued. “This means that clinical interventions, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and targeted emotion regulation training, can be highly effective in helping individuals break free from compulsive relationship dynamics by strengthening these specific skills.”
The findings also provide support for the idea that these emotional mechanisms operate similarly across different global populations. “We believe that testing these models in non-Western contexts is critical,” the authors said. “By showing that our serial mediation model remains robust in Türkiye, our findings suggest that the cognitive-affective pathways from attachment insecurity to relationship addiction are fundamental psychological processes that transcend Western cultural boundaries.”
A potential misunderstanding of the study is the assumption that deep love or passion is inherently problematic. “A common misinterpretation we would like to preempt is pathologizing intense passion or deep emotional investment in a relationship as an ‘addiction’,” the researchers warned. “Healthy devotion involves flexibility and mutual support, whereas relationship addiction is characterized by loss of control, compulsive maintenance despite harm, and significant daily impairment.”
The research does come with certain limitations, including its reliance on self-reported online surveys. The study uses a cross-sectional design, meaning all data was collected at a single point in time. “As a caveat, our study is cross-sectional, meaning the data was collected at a single point in time,” the authors noted. “Therefore, we cannot establish direct cause-and-effect relationships. Longitudinal studies are needed to confirm the temporal order of these pathways.”
The sample was also heavily female and consisted entirely of volunteers, which might not represent the general population perfectly. Future research will aim to track these psychological changes over time to better establish how relationships evolve. “Moving forward, we aim to conduct longitudinal and experimental studies to clarify the causal directions of these relationships,” the researchers said.
“We also hope to develop and test brief, attachment-informed skills-based prevention programs, incorporating ACT-based tools and emotion regulation strategies, to see if they can effectively reduce relationship dependency in community and educational settings,” they concluded. “Additionally, we want to transition to dyadic research designs that collect data from both partners to capture relationship-level dynamics.”
The study, “The Pathway From Attachment Styles to Addiction in Romantic Relationships: The Mediating Roles of Psychological Flexibility and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation,” was authored by Osman Hatun and Berfin Seven.
-------------------------------------------------
Private, vetted email list for mental health professionals: https://www.clinicians-exchange.org
Unofficial Psychology Today Xitter to toot feed at Psych Today Unofficial Bot @PTUnofficialBot
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#psychology #counseling #socialwork #psychotherapy @psychotherapist @psychotherapists @psychology @socialpsych @socialwork @psychiatry #mentalhealth #psychiatry #healthcare #depression #psychotherapist #AttachmentStyles #RomanticRelationships #RelationshipAddiction #PsychologicalFlexibility #Emotion Regulation # ACTTherapy #MindfulnessInRelationships #NonWesternResearch #LoveAndAttachment #HealthyRelationshipSkills
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I kick off the first part of my public #PsychologicalFlexibility course this evening at 5pm UK time. If any of my Mastofriends would like a free place, just drop me a message.
You can find out all about the course here: https://www.worklifepsych.com/thrivingwithpsychflex
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I kick off the first part of my public #PsychologicalFlexibility course this evening at 5pm UK time. If any of my Mastofriends would like a free place, just drop me a message.
You can find out all about the course here: https://www.worklifepsych.com/thrivingwithpsychflex
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Morning all!
I'm delighted to have an article in this quarter's edition of the journal 'Workplace' from the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy).
It's all about how developing a skill set called Psychological Flexibility helps us deal with hassles and setbacks at work. They've made it open access, so you can read it at:
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Morning all!
I'm delighted to have an article in this quarter's edition of the journal 'Workplace' from the BACP (British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy).
It's all about how developing a skill set called Psychological Flexibility helps us deal with hassles and setbacks at work. They've made it open access, so you can read it at:
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Thank you so much to all the folks who attended my session 'Architecture in ACTion - Impactful Mindskills for Tech Leaders' yesterday at @ama_conf . 💚
I loved sharing some digestible bits of #PsychologicalFlexibility and #RFT. 🤓
And of course, share valuable exercises with you, such as:
- options to increase your awareness
- the ReflectionCanvas
- the Circle of Influence
- or the Change of Perspectives Canvas1/2
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Thank you so much to all the folks who attended my session 'Architecture in ACTion - Impactful Mindskills for Tech Leaders' yesterday at @ama_conf . 💚
I loved sharing some digestible bits of #PsychologicalFlexibility and #RFT. 🤓
And of course, share valuable exercises with you, such as:
- options to increase your awareness
- the ReflectionCanvas
- the Circle of Influence
- or the Change of Perspectives Canvas1/2
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🎥 My latest video is all about how we can use increased #PsychologicalFlexibility to effectively deal with the challenges we regularly face at work.
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Craving Clarity: Navigating the Mind-Body Connection in Addiction and Wellness!
#MindBodyConnection #AddictionRecovery #PsychologicalFlexibility #CravingsExplained #HedonicEating #GutHealth #IntermittentFasting #HealthyChoices #TherapyThatWorks #WellnessJourney #Neuroscience #FoodPsychology #Empowerment #CreativeTherapies #FiberPower #NavigatingAddiction
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Embrace Change: Your Journey with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
#AcceptanceAndCommitmentTherapy #MentalHealth #SelfDiscovery #Mindfulness #PsychologicalFlexibility #HealingJourney #AnxietySupport #DepressionHelp #ChronicPainManagement #MentalWellness #Therapy #PersonalGrowth #Empowerment #CognitiveFusion #ExperientialAvoidance #WellBeing
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If you missed last month's online #PsychologicalFlexibility Q&A session, I've published the recording my YouTube channel. You can check it out here:
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My latest video summarises a recent conference presentation I gave on the topic of Psychological Discomfort. I describe what it is and how we can overcome it to do more of the stuff that actually matters.
Thanks for watching!
#ACT #PsychologicalFlexibility #Wellbeing #Procrastination #Coaching #Video
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The latest part of my series all about Psychological Flexibility is live, and this time I discuss the role of values with my colleague and fellow psychologist Ross McIntosh.
We outline what values are and how to bring them to life, as well as the importance of not treating them like goals to be achieved, or rules to be followed.
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The second part of my podcast series about #PsychologicalFlexibility is live - and this time, we turn our attention to the benefits of a mindful focus on the present moment.
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The second part of my podcast series about #PsychologicalFlexibility is live - and this time, we turn our attention to the benefits of a mindful focus on the present moment.
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Here's the first video in my new series on how to develop your #PsychologicalFlexibility.
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This morning I launched a new free programmed called 'First Steps in Psychological Flexibility'. It's a series of podcast episodes and videos to help you develop your flexibility and better cope with life's challenges.
I'm incredibly excited to be sharing this, and you can find all the resources and links at https://www.worklifepsych.com/psychologicalflexibility
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This morning I launched a new free programmed called 'First Steps in Psychological Flexibility'. It's a series of podcast episodes and videos to help you develop your flexibility and better cope with life's challenges.
I'm incredibly excited to be sharing this, and you can find all the resources and links at https://www.worklifepsych.com/psychologicalflexibility
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I love this point about how we relate to our #thoughts.
We can’t turn off thoughts like we can turn off a light or close a window. And trying to do so results in a fruitless struggle, one that takes us away from the present moment.
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Working from home today, to make some real progress on a training design project I'm working on. All about #PsychologicalFlexibility and how to cultivate it.
Avoiding a very chilly commute is just a welcome side effect!
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I came across this interesting study in my lit review, identifying identity conflict, in US Veterans, as negatively impacting reintegration (moving from military to civilian), while military identity having a positive effect.>
#veterans #PsychologicalFlexibility
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338392143_Military_Identity_Psychological_Flexibility_and_Reintegration_Experiences_of_Post_911_Service_Members_and_Veterans -
I came across this interesting study in my lit review, identifying identity conflict, in US Veterans, as negatively impacting reintegration (moving from military to civilian), while military identity having a positive effect.>
#veterans #PsychologicalFlexibility
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/338392143_Military_Identity_Psychological_Flexibility_and_Reintegration_Experiences_of_Post_911_Service_Members_and_Veterans