A curated list of 18 recent publications published around the world in August 2026, including newly released books, journal articles, advance online publications, and preprints. Explore the entries below grouped by major research themes.
We hope you find these publications valuable to your research. If you would like to feature your recent work on love and relationships in an upcoming monthly bulletin, please contact the Institute at info@love-studies-institute.org.
Theme 1: Attachment, Trauma & Relational Healing
1. Griffith, A. (2026). Healing attachment wounds through romantic love: Exploring narratives of earned security [Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University New England]. Antioch University Repository and Archive (AURA). https://aura.antioch.edu/etds/1308
Griffith (2026) explored how romantic love facilitates the transformation of insecure attachment styles into earned security. Through qualitative narrative analysis, the author examined the relational mechanisms and pivotal corrective experiences that enable individuals to heal early attachment wounds within adult romantic partnerships. Findings reveal that partner responsiveness, emotional safety, and reflective functioning are central to renegotiating internal working models of self and others. This research underscores love as a therapeutic vehicle, providing interdisciplinary scholars and practitioners with valuable insights into relational resilience and attachment repair in adulthood.
2. Taşkesen, N., & Barutçu-Yıldırım, F. (2026). Bringing mindfulness to romantic relationships: Linking attachment insecurity to young adults’ relationship satisfaction. Frontiers in Psychology, 17, Article 1732002.
This study investigates how mindfulness and self-compassion buffer the negative impact of attachment insecurity on romantic relationship satisfaction among 521 young adults. Using structural equation modeling, the authors examined dispositional mindfulness, relationship mindfulness, and self-compassion as potential psychological mechanisms transmitting the effects of insecure attachment dimensions—anxiety and avoidance—to relationship satisfaction. Both attachment anxiety and avoidance predicted lower scores across all three constructs. Notably, relationship mindfulness emerged as the sole significant indirect mechanism explaining how attachment anxiety leads to lower satisfaction. These findings indicate that context-specific, relational mindfulness—rather than general dispositional mindfulness or self-compassion—serves as a vital factor in romantic dynamics among anxiously attached young adults.
3. Kim, J. N., Hidalgo, J. E., Noble, N. C., Ha, J., Llorin, J., Carbrey, E., McGinnis, E., Legrand, A. C., & Price, M. (2026). Gratitude amidst hardship: The moderating role of gratitude on social support and sexual assault PTSD. Journal of Child Sexual Abuse, 1–14. Advance online publication.
Kim and colleagues (2026) examined how gratitude and social support interact to buffer posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms among survivors of sexual assault. Analyzing survivor self-reports, the authors found that while higher social support generally predicts lower PTSD severity, gratitude acts as a crucial moderator that enhances these protective benefits. Specifically, survivors expressing higher trait gratitude derived significantly greater mental health protections from their social networks. These findings highlight that cognitive-affective strengths like gratitude amplify external relational resources, offering practitioners clear pathways for integrating gratitude exercises into trauma-informed interventions.
Theme 2: Evolutionary Foundations & Biological Models
4. Erickson, M. (2026). Tender and passionate love: An evolutionary perspective. In M. Brüne & S. Cheli (Eds.), The evolution of psychotherapy: Applying evolutionary theory to mental health care (pp. 293–310). Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-27009-2_14
Erickson (2026) provided an evolutionary framework examining the distinct functional roles of tender and passionate love in human bonding and psychological wellbeing. The author explores how these adaptive emotional systems evolved to meet divergent reproductive and pair-bonding demands, balancing romantic attraction with long-term nurturance. By linking evolutionary mechanisms with clinical insights, the chapter illustrates how understanding these dual emotional systems enhances therapeutic approaches to relationship distress. This interdisciplinary contribution offers psychologists, evolutionary scholars, and psychotherapists critical frameworks for evaluating emotional dynamics and attachment needs in clinical settings.
5. Xie, J., & Brown, G. (2026). Cross-cultural variation in partner preferences: are gender gaps larger in countries with more restrictive gender norms?. Evolutionary Human Sciences, 1–33.
Xie and Brown (2026) examined whether restrictive national gender norms widen sex differences in partner preferences across 14,399 participants in 45 countries. Using the Gender Social Norm Index, the authors found that traditional gender gaps—namely women’s prioritization of financial prospects and men’s preference for younger partners—were significantly larger in nations with restrictive gender norms. These patterns disappeared when evaluating general cultural tightness rather than gender-specific expectations. Consequently, the findings indicate that partner preferences adapt dynamically to localized cultural context, offering strong support for biosocial perspectives.
6. Verpooten, J., & De Tiège, A. (2026). From LUCA to LUCAE: Darwin’s aesthetic theory reappreciated. Biological Theory. Advance online publication.
Verpooten and De Tiège (2026) reappraised Charles Darwin’s evolutionary aesthetic theory, tracing visual and sensory evaluation mechanisms back to early life forms. Conceptualizing the transition from the Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) to a Last Universal Common Aesthetic Evaluator (LUCAE), the authors re-examine mate choice, mate selection, and sensory exploitation through a foundational evolutionary lens. This theoretical synthesis offers evolutionary biologists, cognitive scientists, and relationship researchers renewed frameworks for understanding how physical attractiveness, aesthetic preferences, and pair-bonding signals originally evolved across biological lineages.
Theme 3: Cultural Contexts, Diversity & Socio-Structural Dynamics
7. Romanowicz, A., & Choudhury, A. (Eds.). (2026). Emotional cities and classed emotions: On emotions and social class in the urban Indian and diasporic contexts. Routledge.
Romanowicz and Choudhury (2026) compiled an interdisciplinary volume examining how social class and urban space shape emotional experiences, including romantic love, across Indian and diasporic contexts. Analyzing phenomena from Kolkata marriages to transnational caregiving, the contributors demonstrate how emotional expressions interact with structural power, culture, and social hierarchies. This volume provides cultural psychologists, sociologists, and relationship scholars with vital insights into how individuals negotiate intimacy, family expectations, and personal identity within class-stratified urban environments and modern globalized settings.
8. Hashemi, S., Amanollahi, Z., & Zibaeinejad, M. (2026). Representation of romantic love discourse in the formation of marital conflicts during the first five years of marriage. Woman in Development & Politics, e108209, 10.22059/jwdp.2026.412826.1008621
Hashemi and colleagues (2026) examined how idealized cultural discourses surrounding romantic love contribute to marital conflict during the critical first five years of marriage. Utilizing qualitative thematic analysis, the authors analyzed couples’ lived experiences, identifying how unrealistic romantic expectations and media-driven ideals create severe cognitive dissonance when confronted with daily marital realities. Findings highlight how romantic discourse shapes conflict dynamics and disillusionment in early marital adjustments. This research offers family scholars and marital therapists valuable perspectives on managing unrealistic relationship expectations to promote long-term marital stability.
9. Kocur, D., Moroń, M., Sitko‐Dominik, M., Dhakal, S., & Sharma, N. (2026). Intergenerational association in attitudes toward displaying affection in a romantic relationship. Family Relations, 1–16. Advance online publication.
Kocur and colleagues (2026) examined how attitudes toward displaying affectionate love in romantic relationships transmit across generations within families. Analyzing cross-generational dyadic data, the authors found a significant intergenerational alignment, showing that parental expressions and acceptance of romantic love strongly shape adult children’s affection norms. However, individual developmental factors and broader cultural contexts moderate this transmission. These findings demonstrate that familial modeling serves as a primary foundation for romantic affection, offering family scholars and relationship practitioners crucial insights into intergenerational patterns of romantic expression and emotional closeness.
10. Khamisi, A., Condello, S., Hansson, A. M., & Talbot, D. (2026). Falling short in love: Height dissatisfaction and dating confidence in Australian adults. Academia Mental Health & Well-Being, 3(1), Article e8166. https://doi.org/10.20935/MHealthWellB8166
Khamisi and colleagues (2026) investigated how height dissatisfaction affects dating self-perception among 330 Australian adults. Utilizing self-report measures, the authors found that height dissatisfaction—rather than objective height itself—significantly predicted lower dating confidence across all sex and relationship status groups. Interestingly, height dissatisfaction did not reflect past romantic experience, suggesting that perceived height inadequacy primarily impairs expectations of future dating success. These findings demonstrate that cognitive body image concerns, rather than physical stature, shape romantic confidence, highlighting clear opportunities for targeted cognitive interventions.
Theme 4: Digital Technology, Virtual Intimacy & Non-Human Bonds
11. Molaie-Birgani, S., & Khodabakhshi-Koolaee, A. (2026). Love across screens: A descriptive phenomenological exploration of women’s lived experiences in long-distance virtual romantic relationships. Sexuality & Culture. Advance online publication.
Authors (2026) explored how women experience, navigate, and sustain romantic love within long-distance virtual relationships. Utilizing a descriptive phenomenological framework, the authors identified key lived themes, including digital emotional intimacy, the negotiation of spatial separation, and strategies for maintaining relational presence through screen-mediated communication. Findings illuminate how digital technologies reshape traditional bonding practices and emotional connection. This qualitative inquiry offers relationship scholars and mental health practitioners rich insights into the modern dynamics of remote intimacy, emotional resilience, and virtual romantic connection.
12. Ayık, G. (2026). Yakın ilişkilerde bağlanma, kişilik özellikleri ve yalnızlığın evcil hayvana bağlanmayla ilişkisi [Master’s thesis, Antalya Bilim Üniversitesi]. YÖK Ulusal Tez Merkezi. [Ayık, G. (2026). The relationship of attachment, personality traits, and loneliness with pet attachment in intimate relationships [Master’s thesis, Antalya Bilim University]. Council of Higher Education National Thesis Center.)
This study examines how individual differences influence human–animal bonds within romantic contexts. Investigating the interplay between intimate partner dynamics and human–pet relationships, the researcher evaluated how human attachment orientations, core personality traits, and experienced loneliness correlate with emotional attachment to pets. By integrating psychological measures of interpersonal functioning with animal companionship metrics, the findings highlight how personal vulnerabilities and relational styles shape the reliance on pets for emotional support. This research offers cross-disciplinary insights for scholars and practitioners in psychology, human-animal interaction, and clinical therapy.
Theme 5: Clinical Pathologies, Conflict & Boundary Negotiation
13. Cavalli, R. G., Teverini, A., Ferrà, V., & Velotti, P. (2026). Psychological and psychopathological features of love addiction: A cross-sectional study. Sexual Health & Compulsivity, 1–18. Advance online publication.
Cavalli and colleagues (2026) investigated the core psychological and psychopathological features underpinning love addiction in adult relationships. Utilizing a cross-sectional design, the authors examined how emotional dysregulation, attachment insecurity, and personality traits contribute to problematic relational dependence and obsessive love patterns. Findings demonstrate that deficits in emotion regulation and anxious attachment significantly elevate the risk for compulsive romantic behaviors. This research provides relationship scholars and clinical practitioners with crucial insights into the clinical profiles of love addiction, highlighting target mechanisms for therapeutic intervention and relational rehabilitation.
14. Liu, Y., Tong, W., & Cai, Q. (2026). Longing for ex-partners: A daily diary study on daily thoughts, emotions, and desired attachment following romantic relationship breakup. Journal of Adult Development. Advance online publication.
Liu and colleagues (2026) investigated day-to-day fluctuations in longing for ex-partners following romantic dissolution. Utilizing an intensive daily diary design, the authors tracked individuals’ ongoing thoughts, emotional states, and attachment desires across consecutive days post-breakup. Findings demonstrate that daily intrusive thoughts and negative affect directly trigger heightened attachment seeking toward ex-partners, whereas emotional self-regulation buffers these intrusive impulses over time. This research provides relationship scholars and clinical practitioners with a granular, real-time understanding of how post-breakup distress fluctuates, highlighting critical intervention targets for fostering emotional recovery and detachment.
15. Mironova, O. I., & Rybakova, P. K. (2026). Vliyanie emotsional’nogo intellekta podrostkov na razreshenie konfliktov v romanticheskikh otnosheniyakh [The influence of teenager’s emotional intelligence on conflict resolution in romantic relationships]. Vestnik Universiteta, (4), 285–298.
Mironova and Rybakova (2026) investigated how emotional intelligence shapes conflict resolution strategies among adolescents in early romantic relationships. Examining key competencies—including emotion recognition, empathy, and self-regulation—the authors demonstrated that higher emotional intelligence significantly reduces destructive conflict behaviors and encourages constructive problem-solving strategies. Findings highlight the protective role of emotional awareness in mitigating adolescent relational distress. This research provides developmental psychologists, educators, and youth counselors with valuable empirical insights to support interpersonal skill development, promote healthy communication patterns, and foster relational stability during critical developmental transitions.
16. Marici, M., Marina, L., & Cheia, G. (2026). Measuring refusal in romantic relationships: Psychometric properties of the Refusal Frequency Scale, Refusal Impact Scale, and Refusal Index in Romanian culture. Social Sciences, 15(8), Article 518.
Marici and colleagues (2026) evaluated the psychometric properties of three romantic refusal instruments—the Refusal Frequency Scale, Refusal Impact Scale, and Refusal Index—within a Romanian cultural context. Analyzing construct validity, factor structure, and internal consistency, the authors validated these measures as robust tools for assessing how romantic partners communicate, perceive, and react to boundaries and non-consent. This research advances cross-cultural relationship assessment, equipping social science scholars and clinical practitioners with empirically sound instruments to examine communication boundaries, relational power dynamics, and conflict negotiation.
Theme 6: Compatibility Metrics & Historical Psychobiography
17. Vigl, J., Ihrig, F. L., Greif, M., & Zentner, M. (2026). Harmonies of taste: Shared music preferences and compatibility in romantic relationships. Social Psychological and Personality Science. Advance online publication.
Vigl and colleagues (2026) examined how shared musical taste influences relationship compatibility and satisfaction among romantic couples. Analyzing dyadic survey data, the authors found that music preference alignment—particularly across core dimensions like rhythm and acoustic intensity—significantly predicts perceived interpersonal closeness and relational harmony. Crucially, shared taste served as a behavioral proxy for aligned values and personality traits rather than acting purely as a surface-level hobby. These findings demonstrate that aesthetic alignment functions as a meaningful psychological bridge, offering relationship scholars and practitioners valuable insights into how cultural co-engagement fosters long-term emotional bond cohesion.
18. Mayer, C. H., & Halstead, J. M. (2026). Loving Rodin–Tristes Amours? A Comparative Psychobiography of Camille Rosalie Claudel and Gwendolen Mary John. Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 02654075261475388.
This comparative psychobiographical study examines the complex romantic love and artistic dynamics that sculptors Camille Claudel and Gwen John experienced with Auguste Rodin. Drawing on Murray Bowen’s Systems Theory, Mayer and Halstead analyze how both women navigated their love for Rodin, their artistic identity, and their differentiation of self while working under his influence. The authors highlight how differing socio-cultural constraints, relational patterns, and psychological vulnerabilities shaped their contrasting trajectories, illustrating how their love for a dominant master served as a catalyst for both intense creative expression and profound personal struggle.
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