9 Surprising Ways Your Relationship Style Affects Your Health (According to Science)

Attachment doesn't just shape how we feel. They also leave lasting imprints on our physical health.

Your attachment style impacts the way you bond, react and love. Not just in romance, but in all of life.

Attachment also plays a role in shaping brain development, immune functioning, and even the way our bodies handle stress and illness.

1. Early Attachment Shapes Brain Development

Attachment plays a major role in how children's brains develops.

• Secure attachment - helps the brain grow stronger in areas tied to emotion regulation and stress management.
• Insecure attachment - can shrink these areas by up to 30%.

Healthy caregiver bonds act as the foundation for emotional resilience, while insecure attachment can create lifelong difficulties in managing stress and emotions.

Source: Dr. H.T. Chugani. Newsweek, Spring Summer 1997

Source: Schore, A. N. (2001). Attachment and the regulation of the right brain.

2. Attachment Impacts Immune System Functioning

• Secure attachment - healthier immune responses and lower levels of stress-related inflammation
• Insecure attachment - triggers stress hormones that can cause chronic inflammation, leading to long-term health problems.

Source: Ehrlich, K. B. (2019). Attachment and psychoneuroimmunology: A lifespan perspective.

3. Insecure Attachment Increases Risk of Autoimmune Diseases

People with insecure attachment are much more likely to develop autoimmune conditions. This connection shows how deeply our early relationships shape the way our bodies function.

Source: Huysse-Gaytandjieva, A. (2018). Compassion Focused Therapy and autoimmune conditions.

4. Attachment Influences Pain Perception

Pain isn't just physical; it's also emotional.

• Securely attached: better pain tolerance
• Anxious attachment: experience pain more intensely and for longer periods.

Our attachment deeply influences the way our nervous system interprets and responds to discomfort.

Source: Meredith, P. J., Ownsworth, T., & Strong, J. (2008). Adult attachment theory and chronic pain.

5. Secure Attachment Is Associated with Increased Longevity

Strong, secure relationships can extend your life by up to 50%, a benefit comparable to quitting smoking. Secure attachment fosters a sense of safety and emotional stability, which reduces stress and supports physical health over a lifetime.

Source: Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., & Layton, J. B. (2010). Social relationships and mortality risk.

6. Attachment Disruption Linked to PTSD-Like Stress in Children

When children experience severe attachment disruptions, such as neglect or loss, their stress response mimics PTSD patterns seen in war veterans. This toxic stress can have lifelong impacts, increasing vulnerability to emotional and physical health challenges.

Source: Van Hoof, M. J., et al. (2015). Adult attachment interview differentiates adolescents with childhood sexual abuse.

7. Early Attachment Affects Future Generations

Attachment goes beyond the present moment—it can even influence future generations. The bonds formed with caregivers can activate or deactivate certain genes, a process known as epigenetics. These changes can impact health outcomes not just for one person, but for their descendants.

Source: Vrticka, P. (2018). Towards the epigenetics of human attachment.

8. Secure Attachment Linked to Better Cardiovascular Health

Secure attachment in childhood lays the groundwork for better heart health later in life. Studies show lower blood pressure and reduced risk of heart disease among those who experienced secure bonds with caregivers.

Source: Maunder, R. G., & Hunter, J. J. (2001). Attachment and psychosomatic medicine.

9. Disrupted Attachment Increases Vulnerability to Addiction

Early attachment shapes the brain's stress and reward systems. When attachment is disrupted, the risk of addiction rises dramatically—up to 4.5 times higher. This highlights the importance of healthy bonds in building resilience against harmful coping mechanisms.

Source: Schindler, A., & Bröning, S. (2015). Attachment and adolescent substance abuse.

How the Attached App Can Help

The Attached app makes fixing your anxious attachment easier by being the No.1 attachment-powered all-in-one app:

• Daily Quests: Unlock daily quests designed to help anxious attachment and level up
• Help Mode: Access psychology-backed tools for self-soothing when you feel triggered.
• Intelligent AI Journal: Unlock your hidden patterns and get personalized suggestions as you journal
• Weekly Insights: Eden - your relationship coach intelligently analyzes your journals and voice sessions to help break down patterns and insights

Healing attachment wounds isn't just about improving relationships—it's about giving your body the chance to thrive. By creating secure bonds and calming the nervous system, you can build a foundation for better physical and emotional health, one step at a time.