Love Addiction: Trait Impulsivity, Emotional Dysregulation and Attachment Style

Background and Objectives Growing attention has been given in the last few years to psychological predictors of love addiction (LA).Broadening the understanding of developing effective therapeutic measures. Emotional dysregulation, attachment style and trait impulsivity were examined in this study.  Methods Participants (N = 249) completed a survey assessing the predictors of LA: impulsivity, emotional dysregulation and attachment styles and also completed the Love addiction Short Form (LASF).  Results Regression analyses indicated that negative urgency (NU), anxious attachment, and emotional dysregulation (impulse) all significantly predicted LA (p < .001). Moreover, impulse moderated the relationship between LA and negative urgency (NU).Conclusions Further qualitative research is suggested to provide a richer picture to the current findings e.g. through interviews and the use of neural correlates to ascertain the neuro-biological basis of LA. The present findings may inform treatment plans and suggests the use of psychotherapy to identify indicators of potential LA, manage emotions and to avoid addiction replacement.