GITNUXREPORT 2025

Attachment Style Statistics

Attachment styles influence relationships, health, and adaptation across life stages.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Approximately 60-70% of individuals exhibit a secure attachment style

Statistic 2

Avoidant attachment is observed in about 20-25% of adults

Statistic 3

Anxious attachment style is present in roughly 15-20% of the population

Statistic 4

In a study sample, women are slightly more likely to develop anxious attachment behaviors than men

Statistic 5

Attachment styles are relatively stable over time, with about 60% consistency from childhood to adulthood

Statistic 6

Disorganized attachment is present in approximately 15% of clinical populations

Statistic 7

Approximately 50% of infants worldwide exhibit secure attachment, highlighting variability across cultures

Statistic 8

The proportion of securely attached adults varies widely between cultures, with some cultures reporting as high as 75%

Statistic 9

The percentage of insecure attachment types tends to be higher in clinical populations compared to the general population

Statistic 10

Attachment styles can vary across cultures, with some societies displaying higher rates of avoidant or anxious attachment

Statistic 11

The majority of mental health disorders exhibit attachment-related components, according to clinical studies

Statistic 12

Adults with dismissive-avoidant attachment are less likely to seek emotional support

Statistic 13

About 40% of individuals who experienced childhood trauma develop insecure attachment styles

Statistic 14

Women are more likely to develop anxious attachment patterns, especially if they have experienced neglect

Statistic 15

The prevalence of avoidant attachment tends to increase with age, particularly in men

Statistic 16

Disorganized attachment is often associated with trauma and neglect, especially in childhood

Statistic 17

Attachment styles in adulthood are linked to parenting behaviors, with secure individuals more often practicing sensitive caregiving

Statistic 18

Secure attachment generally develops from consistent and responsive caregiving during early childhood

Statistic 19

The development of a secure attachment style is linked to parental responsiveness and warmth during early childhood

Statistic 20

Individuals with insecure attachment styles are more likely to experience relationship dissatisfaction

Statistic 21

Secure attachment in childhood predicts healthier adult romantic relationships

Statistic 22

Approximately 35% of individuals with anxious attachment report higher levels of jealousy and possessiveness

Statistic 23

Children exposed to inconsistent caregiving are more prone to develop anxious attachment styles

Statistic 24

Securely attached individuals tend to have higher life satisfaction scores

Statistic 25

The prevalence of insecure attachment is higher in individuals with mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety

Statistic 26

Adults with secure attachment are more likely to report satisfying sexual relationships

Statistic 27

People with anxious attachment report higher levels of emotional reactivity

Statistic 28

Secure attachment is associated with better social competence in adolescence

Statistic 29

Avoidant attachment is linked to higher rates of substance abuse in adulthood

Statistic 30

insecure attachment patterns are associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety

Statistic 31

In the context of therapy, attachment style influences treatment engagement and outcomes

Statistic 32

Early intervention can modify insecure attachment patterns in at-risk children

Statistic 33

Attachment insecurity is linked to increased vulnerability to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Statistic 34

Individuals with secure attachment are more likely to develop resilient coping strategies

Statistic 35

Childhood attachment security predicts lower levels of hostility and aggression in adolescence

Statistic 36

Adult attachment insecurity is associated with higher cortisol levels under stress, indicating heightened physiological stress response

Statistic 37

Men with avoidant attachment are less likely to seek help for mental health issues, impacting treatment outcomes

Statistic 38

Secure attachment correlates with higher academic achievement in adolescents

Statistic 39

The development of secure attachment can buffer the negative effects of adverse childhood experiences on mental health

Statistic 40

Secure attachment is associated with better emotional regulation skills in children and adults

Statistic 41

Certain physiological markers, such as vagal tone, are higher in securely attached individuals, indicating better autonomic regulation

Statistic 42

Childhood attachment patterns can predict adult romantic relationship quality and stability

Statistic 43

Secure attachment is linked to higher levels of empathy and compassion

Statistic 44

The prevalence of dismissive-avoidant attachment may increase in individuals with social anxiety

Statistic 45

Insecure attachment styles are associated with increased risk for borderline personality disorder

Statistic 46

Young adults with secure attachments tend to have healthier coping mechanisms during stressful life transitions

Statistic 47

Attachment insecurity is linked to increased risk of substance dependence disorders

Statistic 48

Secure attachment in early childhood is associated with better emotion recognition abilities in later life

Statistic 49

Securely attached individuals experience less loneliness and social isolation in adulthood

Statistic 50

Individuals with anxious attachment styles are more prone to developing eating disorders

Statistic 51

Insecure attachment has been linked to increased inflammatory responses in the body, impacting overall health

Statistic 52

Secure attachment in young adulthood enhances resilience against stress-related disorders

Statistic 53

Adults with avoidant attachment tend to have lower levels of oxytocin, impacting bonding

Statistic 54

People with secure attachment styles have better sleep quality, possibly due to lower stress levels

Statistic 55

Secure attachment is associated with healthier physiological stress responses, including lower blood pressure reactivity

Statistic 56

In adult relationships, secure attachment correlates with increased trust and better conflict resolution skills

Statistic 57

Attachment insecurity can negatively impact workplace relationships and team cohesion

Statistic 58

Attachment style influences how individuals perceive and interpret social cues, impacting social interactions

Statistic 59

Attachment style impacts the ability to form and maintain long-term friendships, with secure individuals experiencing more stable friendships

Statistic 60

The development of attachment styles can be influenced by parental mental health

Statistic 61

The likelihood of developing insecure attachment increases with maternal depression during pregnancy

Statistic 62

Attachment insecurities are transmitted intergenerationally, with parents' attachment styles influencing those of their children

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Key Highlights

Approximately 60-70% of individuals exhibit a secure attachment style
Avoidant attachment is observed in about 20-25% of adults
Anxious attachment style is present in roughly 15-20% of the population
Individuals with insecure attachment styles are more likely to experience relationship dissatisfaction
Secure attachment in childhood predicts healthier adult romantic relationships
Approximately 35% of individuals with anxious attachment report higher levels of jealousy and possessiveness
Adults with dismissive-avoidant attachment are less likely to seek emotional support
In a study sample, women are slightly more likely to develop anxious attachment behaviors than men
Children exposed to inconsistent caregiving are more prone to develop anxious attachment styles
Securely attached individuals tend to have higher life satisfaction scores
Attachment styles are relatively stable over time, with about 60% consistency from childhood to adulthood
The prevalence of insecure attachment is higher in individuals with mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety
Adults with secure attachment are more likely to report satisfying sexual relationships

Did you know that nearly 70% of adults exhibit a secure attachment style, yet insecure attachment patterns—linked to everything from relationship dissatisfaction to mental health challenges—remain surprisingly prevalent and deeply rooted in our early childhood experiences?

Attachment Prevalence and Distribution

Approximately 60-70% of individuals exhibit a secure attachment style
Avoidant attachment is observed in about 20-25% of adults
Anxious attachment style is present in roughly 15-20% of the population
In a study sample, women are slightly more likely to develop anxious attachment behaviors than men
Attachment styles are relatively stable over time, with about 60% consistency from childhood to adulthood
Disorganized attachment is present in approximately 15% of clinical populations
Approximately 50% of infants worldwide exhibit secure attachment, highlighting variability across cultures
The proportion of securely attached adults varies widely between cultures, with some cultures reporting as high as 75%
The percentage of insecure attachment types tends to be higher in clinical populations compared to the general population
Attachment styles can vary across cultures, with some societies displaying higher rates of avoidant or anxious attachment
The majority of mental health disorders exhibit attachment-related components, according to clinical studies

Attachment Prevalence and Distribution Interpretation

With nearly 70% of people showing secure attachment, it's clear that in the grand emotional ecosystem, most of us are well-grounded, but the sizable pockets of avoidant, anxious, and disorganized attachments remind us that human connections can be as complex and varied as cultural norms—and, unfortunately, as influential, given their significant link to mental health.

Attachment Styles and Characteristics

Adults with dismissive-avoidant attachment are less likely to seek emotional support
About 40% of individuals who experienced childhood trauma develop insecure attachment styles
Women are more likely to develop anxious attachment patterns, especially if they have experienced neglect
The prevalence of avoidant attachment tends to increase with age, particularly in men
Disorganized attachment is often associated with trauma and neglect, especially in childhood
Attachment styles in adulthood are linked to parenting behaviors, with secure individuals more often practicing sensitive caregiving
Secure attachment generally develops from consistent and responsive caregiving during early childhood
The development of a secure attachment style is linked to parental responsiveness and warmth during early childhood

Attachment Styles and Characteristics Interpretation

These statistics reveal that early trauma and caregiving quality profoundly influence adult attachment styles, shaping emotional support-seeking behaviors and parenting, yet the rising avoidant tendencies with age—especially among men—suggest a complex interplay between past wounds and social masks that can hinder genuine connection.

Health and Psychological Outcomes Associated with Attachment

Individuals with insecure attachment styles are more likely to experience relationship dissatisfaction
Secure attachment in childhood predicts healthier adult romantic relationships
Approximately 35% of individuals with anxious attachment report higher levels of jealousy and possessiveness
Children exposed to inconsistent caregiving are more prone to develop anxious attachment styles
Securely attached individuals tend to have higher life satisfaction scores
The prevalence of insecure attachment is higher in individuals with mental health disorders, such as depression and anxiety
Adults with secure attachment are more likely to report satisfying sexual relationships
People with anxious attachment report higher levels of emotional reactivity
Secure attachment is associated with better social competence in adolescence
Avoidant attachment is linked to higher rates of substance abuse in adulthood
insecure attachment patterns are associated with higher levels of depression and anxiety
In the context of therapy, attachment style influences treatment engagement and outcomes
Early intervention can modify insecure attachment patterns in at-risk children
Attachment insecurity is linked to increased vulnerability to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Individuals with secure attachment are more likely to develop resilient coping strategies
Childhood attachment security predicts lower levels of hostility and aggression in adolescence
Adult attachment insecurity is associated with higher cortisol levels under stress, indicating heightened physiological stress response
Men with avoidant attachment are less likely to seek help for mental health issues, impacting treatment outcomes
Secure attachment correlates with higher academic achievement in adolescents
The development of secure attachment can buffer the negative effects of adverse childhood experiences on mental health
Secure attachment is associated with better emotional regulation skills in children and adults
Certain physiological markers, such as vagal tone, are higher in securely attached individuals, indicating better autonomic regulation
Childhood attachment patterns can predict adult romantic relationship quality and stability
Secure attachment is linked to higher levels of empathy and compassion
The prevalence of dismissive-avoidant attachment may increase in individuals with social anxiety
Insecure attachment styles are associated with increased risk for borderline personality disorder
Young adults with secure attachments tend to have healthier coping mechanisms during stressful life transitions
Attachment insecurity is linked to increased risk of substance dependence disorders
Secure attachment in early childhood is associated with better emotion recognition abilities in later life
Securely attached individuals experience less loneliness and social isolation in adulthood
Individuals with anxious attachment styles are more prone to developing eating disorders
Insecure attachment has been linked to increased inflammatory responses in the body, impacting overall health
Secure attachment in young adulthood enhances resilience against stress-related disorders
Adults with avoidant attachment tend to have lower levels of oxytocin, impacting bonding
People with secure attachment styles have better sleep quality, possibly due to lower stress levels
Secure attachment is associated with healthier physiological stress responses, including lower blood pressure reactivity

Health and Psychological Outcomes Associated with Attachment Interpretation

Attachment styles shape not only our hearts but also our health, with secure attachment acting as a protective factor against relationship dissatisfaction, mental health struggles, and physiological stress, suggesting that fostering early security might be the best investment in lifelong well-being.

Impact of Attachment on Relationships and Social Functioning

In adult relationships, secure attachment correlates with increased trust and better conflict resolution skills
Attachment insecurity can negatively impact workplace relationships and team cohesion
Attachment style influences how individuals perceive and interpret social cues, impacting social interactions
Attachment style impacts the ability to form and maintain long-term friendships, with secure individuals experiencing more stable friendships

Impact of Attachment on Relationships and Social Functioning Interpretation

These statistics reveal that attachment styles not only shape our romantic and social lives, fostering trust and stability or breeding insecurity and discord, but also extend their influence into our professional interactions, underscoring the profound power of early emotional wiring in every relationship we forge.

Intergenerational Transmission of Attachment Insecurities

The development of attachment styles can be influenced by parental mental health
The likelihood of developing insecure attachment increases with maternal depression during pregnancy
Attachment insecurities are transmitted intergenerationally, with parents' attachment styles influencing those of their children

Intergenerational Transmission of Attachment Insecurities Interpretation

These statistics underscore how parental mental health, particularly maternal depression during pregnancy, can cast long shadows, intergenerationally shaping attachment styles and perpetuating a cycle of insecurity that inheritance alone cannot break.