How Love Addiction Fuels Anxiety, Depression, and Cognitive Struggles

At a glance

Love addiction linked to cognitive difficulties: People with symptoms reported more problems with memory, attention, and daily functioning, especially when symptoms were severe.
Anxiety and depression as key mediators: Emotional distress explained much of the connection between love addiction and cognitive complaints.
Social media as a strong predictor: Frequent use was associated with higher love addiction symptoms, which in turn fueled anxiety, depression, and cognitive struggles.

A new study published in Behavioural Brain Research has found that people experiencing symptoms of love addiction are more likely to report difficulties with memory, attention, and daily cognitive functioning. The effects were closely tied to anxiety and depression, which themselves were associated with higher levels of love addiction. The study also showed that frequent social media use is a strong predictor of love addiction symptoms.

The researchers explain that love addiction can involve obsessive thoughts and behaviours towards a romantic partner, often accompanied by emotional instability, anxiety when apart, and an excessive focus on maintaining the relationship. People with this pattern may experience symptoms similar to those seen in drug addiction, such as mood swings, loss of control, and intense craving.

To explore how this affects cognition, the team analysed data from 600 Italian adults who completed an online survey between July 2022 and May 2023. Participants were divided into three groups based on their level of love addiction symptoms. Compared with those showing no symptoms, individuals with mild or severe symptoms reported more frequent cognitive failures, including problems remembering things, concentrating, and completing tasks at work or home. These difficulties were most pronounced among those with severe symptoms, although even mild cases reported noticeable declines in perceived cognitive functioning.

The study also found that anxiety and depression explained much of the link between love addiction and cognitive complaints. In other words, love addiction appeared to increase emotional distress, which in turn contributed to difficulties in daily cognitive performance.

Another significant finding was the role of social media. People who used it more frequently were more likely to report symptoms of love addiction, even after accounting for age, gender, and education. These symptoms were then associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression, which contributed to cognitive complaints.

To test the robustness of the results, the researchers repeated their analyses excluding participants with psychiatric diagnoses. The findings remained consistent. They also tested whether anxiety and depression might cause love addiction instead, but this explanation was not supported.

Beyond cognition, people with more severe symptoms tended to have lower levels of education, resilience, and coping strategies. They were also more likely to report a history of psychological conditions and to be using psychotropic medication.

The authors note that people experiencing love addiction often describe intense emotional suffering, particularly when relationships are marked by rejection or instability. This distress may not only harm well-being but also interfere with everyday functioning. From a clinical perspective, the findings suggest that targeting anxiety and depression in treatment could help reduce the cognitive complaints associated with love addiction.

Although based on self-reported data, the study highlights how emotional attachment, social media use, and mental health interact to influence cognitive self-perception. The researchers add that subjective cognitive difficulties in people with love addiction may serve as early warning signs, making them important targets for early screening and intervention.