How Your Romantic Attachment Style Can Affect Your Well-Being & Wallet

In dating today, there are a lot of options for how you meet someone. But according to attachment theory, there are only really three styles of romantic attachment: secure, anxious, and avoidant attachment. A recent study considered how attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance can affect "life outcomes"— including well-being and our financial behavior.

The study, published last month by researchers at the University of Arizona, collected responses from college-aged people who were in romantic relationships. Responses were given regarding life satisfaction, relationship satisfaction, and financial satisfaction.

The data showed that those with attachment anxiety frequently self-reported a lower level of overall life satisfaction, as well as low satisfaction with their relationship and low financial satisfaction.

In the case of those with attachment anxiety, they may seek to "buy" their partner's love with gifts. According to Li, "People who are high in attachment anxiety may use money to get attention from other people."

By contrast, those with an avoidant attachment style may spend their money less responsibly for their own benefit. Previously research has linked high attachment avoidance to being more materialistic, according to this report.

The reasoning for these behaviors, according to the researchers, is based on the characteristics of these attachment styles. People who avoid attachment likely value their partner less, while the insecurity of those with attachment anxiety can lead to distrust in the relationship

Because of the inherent relationship between finances and well-being, the researchers hope to continue investigating the influence of attachment style on financial decision making.