Theoretical Construction of Love Anxiety: A Multi-Stage Relational Threat Model
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Authors
Kookmin University
Wuhan Donghu University
Gansu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine
Abstract
Contemporary romantic relationships are increasingly marked by ambiguous boundaries, delayed commitment, social media comparison, and sociocultural pressure, which may intensify anxiety across the romantic trajectory. This conceptual article proposes love anxiety as a cross-stage relational threat response characterized by persistent worry, tension, rumination, avoidance, jealousy, and reassurance seeking during love attainment, relationship initiation, confirmation, maintenance, loss, and future commitment. Integrating the triangular theory of love, adult attachment theory, relational uncertainty theory, rejection sensitivity, intolerance of uncertainty, self-worth contingency theory, social media relationship research, and the Love Confirmation Mechanism Model, the article develops a Multi-Stage Relational Threat Model. Six theoretical dimensions are proposed: love attainment anxiety, relationship initiation anxiety, relationship certainty anxiety, lovability anxiety, loss and separation anxiety, and commitment and future anxiety. The model clarifies conceptual boundaries and offers directions for qualitative inquiry, scale development, validation, and cross-cultural testing.
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Data sharing is not applicable to this article because no new empirical data were generated or analyzed. This conceptual article is based on publicly available literature and theoretical analysis.
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