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.


RT’s Three Key Takeaways:

  1. Attachment Anxiety Amplifies Jealousy After Poor Sleep: Poor sleep quality increases daily feelings of jealousy, but only in individuals with high attachment anxiety, suggesting that relationship insecurity heightens emotional vulnerability during sleep deprivation.
  2. Sleep Quality Tied to Relationship Insecurity: Anxiously attached individuals reported worse sleep quality, reinforcing the bidirectional link between emotional well-being in relationships and sleep health.
  3. Attachment Style Shapes Emotional Effects of Sleep: Not all negative emotions are equally impacted by poor sleep—attachment style may determine which emotions, like jealousy, are most affected, highlighting the need for personalized approaches in sleep and relationship interventions.


“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.”