Emotional dependency and parental attachment styles in romantic relationships

Abstract

Emotional dependency, a complex psychological phenomenon rooted in early experiences and family interaction patterns, manifests through an excessive demand for affection and approval, particularly in romantic relationships. Factors such as dysfunctional family dynamics and restrictive parenting styles contribute to its formation, leading to difficulties in establishing balanced relationships in adulthood. Attachment styles formed in childhood, including secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized, influence how individuals manage their emotional relationships and cope with emotional stress in adulthood. The findings reveal that attachment styles, especially insecure ones like the anxious-ambivalent, are linked with greater emotional vulnerability and problems in emotional regulation in romantic relationships, highlighting the need to integrate the analysis of attachment styles in the assessment of emotional dependency.