The Association Between Using People for Attachment-Related Functions and Subjective Well-Being

According to attachment theory, attachment bonds are foundational for subjective well-being. But does that mean that having more attachment relationships is better than having fewer? The current research assessed this question in a cross-sectional study of 4,625 people. We found that the association between the number of targets used for attachment-related needs and well-being was essentially zero. However, exploratory analyses revealed that, among people who had anxious attachments with their attachment figures, having more figures for attachment-related needs was associated with lower subjective well-being. The reverse was found among more secure people (i.e., less anxious) in their attachments. These findings imply that there is not a straightforward relationship between the number of attachment figures people have and their well-being. It is possible that using multiple people for attachment functions may reflect a compensatory process for those who are anxious about their attachments.