Alone or Abused? Fear of Being Single, Attachment Insecurity, and IPV Risk in Young Adults

Background Domestic violence remains a critical public health issue, accounting for approximately 1,500 deaths annually in the United States. Fear of being single (FBS), or distress associated with lacking a romantic partner, is linked to insecure attachment styles; however, its role in tolerance of intimate partner violence (IPV) remains underexplored. This study examined the associations between FBS, attachment insecurity, partner preferences, and IPV-related experiences to inform IPV prevention strategies. Methods Participants were recruited via the Prolific online survey participant platform and students in undergraduate psychology courses at Oakland University. Eligible participants were cisgender adults (18 + years old) who had been in a romantic relationship for at least three months. Validated measures assessed FBS, attachment style, relationship-contingent self-esteem, aggression, preference for a dominant partner, and IPV-related experiences. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted for the full sample and separately for partnered and single participants. Results Attachment-related anxiety was the strongest and most consistent predictor of FBS across all the models. Preference for a dominant partner significantly predicted higher FBS scores in the full sample and partnered participants, but not among singles. Participant-perpetrated aggression was negatively associated with FBS in the full and partnered samples. Relationship-contingent self-esteem did not independently predict FBS in any model. Age and relationship length were negatively associated with FBS. Notably, FBS was unrelated to the likelihood of ending a relationship following partner aggression in both groups. Conclusions FBS is associated with attachment insecurity and relational dynamics relevant to IPV risk. These findings highlight FBS as a potential risk factor for remaining in unhealthy or unsafe relationships, supporting its consideration in IPV prevention and intervention efforts targeting young adults.