Summary: A new study reveals that poor sleep quality is linked to increased jealousy in people with high relationship anxiety. Anxious attachment, marked by insecurity and low self-esteem in relationships, was associated with worse sleep quality.
Importantly, the link between poor sleep and jealousy only held true for individuals with high levels of attachment anxiety. These findings suggest that a person’s attachment style may influence how sleep impacts emotional responses.
Key Facts:
- Attachment and Sleep: Anxious attachment correlates with poorer sleep quality.
- Sleep and Jealousy: Poor sleep increases daily jealousy only in those with attachment anxiety.
- Personalized Interventions: Understanding attachment style can help tailor sleep and relationship interventions.
Source; AASM
A new study to be presented at the SLEEP 2025 annual meeting found that poor sleep quality is related to relationship insecurity, which moderates the effect of sleep quality on daily feelings of jealousy.
Results show that anxious attachment, which involves difficulties with trust and low self-esteem in relationships, was related to poorer sleep quality. The study also found that poor sleep quality was associated with more daily feelings of jealousy, but this effect was only significant for those with high levels of attachment anxiety.
“Interestingly, poor sleep wasn’t uniformly related to all negative socioemotional outcomes,” said Giovanni Alvarado, lead author and doctoral candidate at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana.
“This suggests that attachment style might shape which emotions are most affected by sleep quality.”
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, sleep is essential to health. The AASM recommends that adults should sleep 7 or more hours per night on a regular basis to promote optimal health. In addition to adequate duration, healthy sleep requires good quality, appropriate timing and regularity, and the absence of sleep disturbances or disorders.
The study involved 68 young adults who completed questionnaires about sleep and relationships. They also completed daily self-reports capturing experiences of social emotions and behaviors over a two-week period.
According to Alvarado, the study underscores the complex link between sleep and relationships.
“People with anxious attachment, or those who struggle with insecurity in relationships, may be especially vulnerable to feelings of envy and jealousy when they’re sleep deprived,” said Alvarado.
“This helps us understand why some individuals may have more difficulty navigating social situations when they’re tired and could inform more targeted interventions that consider an individual’s relationship style when addressing sleep issues.”
About this sleep and jealousy research news
Author: Hannah Miller
Source: AASM
Contact: Hannah Miller – AASM
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News
Original Research: The findings will be presented at SLEEP 2025
