Here are 12 prominent publications on love and relationship studies published in May of 2026, along with following advance online publications, preprints, and posters.

Publications

1. Marazziti, D., Mucci, F., Gurrieri, R., Palego, L., Betti, L., Giannaccini, G., & Carter, S. (2026). Peripheral brain-derived neurotrophic factor in stable love relationships: a study in healthy humans. The World Journal of Biological Psychiatry, 1-15.

This study investigated how being in a stable romantic relationship affects levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), a protein essential for brain health and emotional regulation. Researchers compared 60 healthy adults, measuring BDNF in their blood. The results showed that individuals in committed relationships had significantly higher BDNF levels than those who were single, regardless of biological sex. These findings suggest that romantic partnership may positively influence biological markers associated with mental well-being and neurological health

2. Isolani, S., Costacurta, M., Winer, C., Grigoropoulos, I., Olivo, I., & Di Battista, S. (2026). Beyond Sexual Attraction: Development and Validation of a Multidimensional Attraction Measure Informed by Asexual People’s Experiences. Sexuality Research and Social Policy, 1-20.

In their study, Isolani and colleagues developed and validated the Multidimensional Attraction Measure (MAM), a novel tool designed to capture a broader range of attraction types beyond the sexual. Informed by asexual experiences, the MAM identifies five distinct attraction dimensions: sexual, romantic, aesthetic, sensual, and platonic. Validated with 1,510 participants, the measure demonstrated high reliability and validity, offering a more inclusive framework for psychological research into human relationships and orientation.

3. 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 and Well-Being, 3(1). doi.org/10.20935/MHealthWellB8166

In their study, Khamisi and colleagues explored the relationship between height dissatisfaction and dating confidence among Australian adults. Surveying a diverse sample, the researchers found that height dissatisfaction significantly predicted lower dating self-efficacy, particularly among men. While shorter men reported the highest levels of anxiety regarding romantic prospects, tall women also experienced unique social pressures. The study concludes that height remains a potent factor in “sexual market value,” suggesting that physical stature deeply influences psychological well-being and romantic confidence in modern dating.

4. Langlais, M., Seidman, G., Jiao, C., & Ledermann, T. (2026). A Dyadic Analysis on Social Media Behaviors for Romantic Relationship Quality. Human Behavior and Emerging Technologies, 2026(1), 6667233.

In this dyadic study, Langlais and colleagues examined how social media behaviors impact romantic relationship quality among couples. By analyzing data from both partners, the researchers found that “relationship-maintenance” behaviors, such as public displays of affection and positive tagging, were associated with higher satisfaction and commitment. Conversely, individualistic behaviors or monitoring a partner’s activity often predicted lower relationship quality and increased jealousy. The findings highlight the importance of reciprocal digital engagement in fostering intimacy and stability within modern romantic partnerships.

5. Sánchez-Fernández, M., Almeda, N., & Borda-Mas, M. (2026). Problematic Love Behaviors and Correlated Factors: A Systematic Review with Subgroup Meta-Analysis Including Gender/Sex Moderation. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 1-21.

Across four studies, this study explores how sexual arousal affects risk regulation in initial romantic encounters, where approach motivation competes with the fear of rejection. The findings reveal that sexual priming induces a “tunnel vision” effect, causing individuals to perceive ambiguous social cues as signs of romantic interest. This optimistic bias is mediated by the increased perceived desirability of the partner. However, this perceptual distortion is bounded; it disappears when rejection cues are clear, suggesting that sexual arousal selectively impairs judgment only when the possibility of a romantic connection remains plausible.

6. Zhu, M., Tan, J., Zheng, Z., Liang, L., Li, Q., Wen, J., … & Shu, Y. (2026). Adult attachment and intimate relationship satisfaction among university students: the chain mediating roles of appreciation and sense of giving. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 17, 1758775.

This study by Zhu et al. investigates how insecure adult attachment (anxiety and avoidance) reduces intimate relationship satisfaction among 536 university students. The researchers identified a significant chain mediation mechanism: insecure attachment negatively impacts “appreciation” (both feeling and expressing it), which in turn diminishes an individual’s “sense of giving.” This reduction in the perceived value of relational contributions ultimately leads to lower satisfaction. The findings suggest that interventions targeting appreciation could mitigate the negative effects of insecure attachment on romantic well-being

7. Wells, T., Hoan, E., & MacDonald, G. (2026). Happily Ever After? Singles’ Expectations of Romantic Relationships Are Associated With Singlehood Satisfaction and Future Romantic Outcomes. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 01461672261438616. https://doi.org/10.1177/01461672261438616

This study investigated how a single person’s perception of a romantic relationship—more especially, what they believe they will gain or lose—influences their level of satisfaction now and in the future. Researchers divided these expectations into three categories using long-term data from more than 5,000 participants: status (financial or social benefits), negative outcomes (stress and loss of freedom), and intimacy (affection and support). The study shows that being single isn’t experienced the same way by everyone; their satisfaction is deeply tied to the imaginary alternatives they create in their minds.

8. Rempel, J. K. (2026). Conceptualizing Trust in the Context of Close Relationships. In J.P. Forgas (ed.) The Psychology of Trust (pp. 171-184). Routledge.

John K. Rempel’s framework conceptualizes trust within intimate relationships as a progressive, three-stage developmental process that involves predictability, dependability, and faith. Trust originates from evaluating a partner’s consistent past behaviors (predictability), evolves into an assessment of their stable disposition and emotional investment (dependability), and culminates in faith—an emotional leap of conviction allowing individuals to feel secure about the future despite facing unavoidable risks. This multidimensional model shifts interpersonal focus from calculated risk management to emotional security, serving as the foundational glue for long-term relational resilience and stability.

9. Ebner, P., & Szczuka, J. (2026). Understanding romantic relationships between humans and chatbots: A qualitative and quantitative study on romantic fantasy and other interpersonal characteristics. Technology, Mind, and Behavior. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/tmb0000193

This mixed-methods study explores the psychological drivers behind the emotional intensity of human-chatbot romantic relationships. Combining quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews, the research demonstrates that the capacity for romantic fantasizing is the strongest predictor of relationship intensity, alongside anthropomorphism (perceiving the chatbot as human-like) and anxious-avoidant attachment styles. General loneliness surprisingly plays no significant role. Notably, the study reveals that romantic fantasy operates similarly in both human-chatbot and human-human bonds, as users actively leverage imagination to enrich their digital intimacy and compensate for the technological limitations of AI companions.

10. Pederson, J. R., & Peacock, C. (2026). The Relational Load of Political Dissimilarity in Romantic Relationships. Communication Studies, 1-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/10510974.2026.2667526

This study explores how political differences impact the relationship of romantic partners through the lens of the “relational load” model. While most couples tend to choose politically similar partners, those with divergent voting behaviors and ideologies experience heightened interpersonal stress. The researchers found that political dissimilarity negatively affects a couple’s communal orientation, decreasing their collective relationship maintenance. This erosion triggers chronic conflict and emotional depletion during political discussions, creating a heavy relational load that damages relational resilience. The study highlights that maintaining a politically discordant relationship requires continuous, intentional investment to prevent emotional wear and tear.

11. Kounenou, K., Pezirkianidis, C., Findani, D., Kalamatianos, A., & Kourmousi, N. (2026). Perceptions of early attachment experiences and quality of romantic relationships among Greek adults. Psychology: the Journal of the Hellenic Psychological Society, 31(1), 143-158.

This study examines how recalled early maternal attachment experiences shape the quality and styles of adult romantic relationships among 400 Greek adults. The findings reveal distinct developmental trajectories: early experiences of maternal love and low rejection correlate with avoidant romantic styles, whereas experiences of maternal care deficiencies and role reversals—especially when recalled with anger—strongly predict anxious attachment. Additionally, significant gender and age variances emerged, highlighting how early relational vulnerabilities evolve over time. These insights emphasize the value of targeted, interdisciplinary psychological interventions for modern couple therapy and parenting support.

12. Xia, M. (2026, May). Development and validation of the Feeling Loved Scale (FLS): Felt love from a specific close other and its relevance for well-being. Journal of Happiness Studies 27(5). DOI: 10.1007/s10902-026-01052-0

By creating and validating the Feeling Loved Scale (FLS), Xia (2026) fills a significant gap in psychological measurement of love and love-related constructs. While prior research focuses on relationship-level dynamics or romantic contexts, this measurement instrument specifically assesses an individual’s subjective experience of being loved by a specific close other. The 12-item scale is grounded in a three-component framework that includes feelings of positive responsiveness, authentic connection, and stability. The scale was validated across various samples and included 758 participants. The Feeling Loved Scale reveals robust psychometric reliability and validity, offering an adaptable, cross-disciplinary tool for examining how felt love influences overall well-being.

Advance Online Publications and Preprints

• Birnbaum, G. E., & Zholtack, K. (2026). They are just not that into you: Does sexual arousal impair perception of rejection cues? Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin. Advance online publication.

In this study, Birnbaum and Zholtack investigated how sexual arousal influences the perception of rejection in early romantic encounters. Across four experiments, researchers found that sexual priming induces a “tunnel vision” effect, causing individuals to overperceive romantic interest and desirability in potential partners, even when faced with ambiguous cues. This motivated bias helps prioritize approach goals over self-protective fears of rejection. However, this perceptual distortion vanishes when rejection cues are clear, suggesting arousal only impairs judgment in hopeful, uncertain situations.

• Mageed, I. A. (2026). The mathematical equation of love: Thinking beyond numbers and emotions. Computer Science and Emotion Modeling.

In this article, Ismail A. Mageed proposes a novel mathematical framework to quantify love, moving beyond traditional psychological perspectives. By integrating affective computing, cognitive architecture modeling, and complex systems theory, the author defines love as a dynamic synchronization of multi-modal emotional states. The research utilizes acoustic analysis, visual attention markers, and vision-based emotion modeling to create a computational approach to relationship maintenance. Ultimately, the study suggests that the fundamental mechanisms of deep emotional connection can be measured and understood through sophisticated computer science and emotion modeling.

• Thorne, A. (2026). Love as emotional container and integrative flow (LECIF): A unified model of affective coherence. Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20008599

This paper proposes that love is a dual-function relational architecture rather than a discrete emotion. It synthesizes cross-disciplinary evidence to define love through two structural components: an emotional container that establishes regulatory safety for affect , and an integrative flow-state that drives emotional and cognitive alignment toward systemic coherence. Validated by empirical markers like sexual behavior and the catastrophic systemic collapse of betrayal , this model provides a universal framework for understanding how relational bonds actively preserve or degrade human psychological stability.

• Malejka, P. (2026). Between projection and regulation: Love, attachment, and parasociality in human-AI interaction [Unpublished manuscript].

This paper reviews how love, attachment, and parasocial dynamics are operationalized in human-AI interaction research. Synthesizing literature across psychometric, qualitative, computational, and behavioral traditions, the author identifies fragmented methodologies that provide only partial accounts of these emotional bonds. To bridge these gaps, the review conceptualizes these relationships as a hybrid phenomenon. It proposes a grounded distinction between simulated reciprocity (a systemic property of conversational agents) and projective bonding (a cognitive property of user psychology), offering a unified framework for future multidisciplinary research.

Poster Presentations

Young, E., Coniku, A., & Imami, L. (2026, May 1). SES and cognitive interdependence in romantic relationships [Poster presentation]. Oberlin College Research Symposium, Oberlin, OH, United States. https://digitalcommons.oberlin.edu/researchsymp/2026/posters/9/

The study of Young, Coniku, and Imami investigates how socioeconomic status (SES) influences cognitive interdependence—the mental representation of a romantic couple as a single unit. Across two studies involving 468 participants, the authors explored whether SES predicts the use of plural pronouns (e.g., “we,” “us”) during goal-setting tasks and if this interdependence mediates relationship outcomes like commitment and forgiveness. Results were mixed: while Study 1 found that higher education levels positively predicted cognitive interdependence, this effect was not replicated in Study 2, highlighting the complex psychological landscape of lower-SES romantic dynamics.

Here are 12 prominent publications on love and relationship studies published in April of 2026:

Eastwick, P. (2026). Bonded by evolution: The new science of love and connection. Random House.

In this book, the author explores the biological roots of human relationships, challenging traditional myths about “soulmates.” The book synthesizes cutting-edge psychological research with evolutionary biology to explain why we form deep attachments. The author argues that modern love isn’t just a social construct but a sophisticated survival mechanism refined over millennia. By examining how natural selection shaped our bonding behaviors, the book offers a fresh, evidence-based perspective on intimacy, helping readers navigate modern dating with a more profound understanding of their inherent prehistoric blueprints.

Jankowiak, W. (2026). Wanting Beauty, Fearing Beauty: Mate Preference, Intimacy, Deception, and the Femme Fatale. Social Sciences, 15(4), 259.

The study explores the complex psychological tension between the desire for physical beauty and the fear of its potential consequences in romantic relationships. By examining the “femme fatale” archetype, the author highlights how high levels of attractiveness can trigger anxieties regarding deception and diminished intimacy. The research suggests that while beauty remains a primary mate preference, it often evokes a protective wariness, illustrating a fundamental conflict between aesthetic attraction and the need for emotional security and trust.

Niranjana, T., & Lukose, R. (2026). Digital intimacy: young women in inter-Asia. Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, 1-20.

Examines how college-going women in four Asian “smart cities” (Hong Kong, Singapore, Guangzhou, and Bangalore) navigate digital intimacy, including aspects of romance and sex, through in-depth ethnographic interviews. The authors discuss how everyday navigations of romance, family, education, and work within historically situated neoliberal urban landscapes in Asia are shaped by digital intimacies and the relationalities they generate. Research method draws on cultural studies, media, communication studies, and anthropology to build knowledge about Asian contexts, using a collaborative Inter-Asia research method that multiplies reference points across the region.

Yue, A., & Chau, K. T. (2026). Singapore: boundary-work, digital creativity, and the normative life script. Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, 1-25.

The article develops the concept of the “digitally intimate everyday” to examine how young women negotiate intimacy, subjectivity, and gendered life transitions in Singapore’s highly digitized society. The authors conceptualize digital intimacy as a materially embodied and ambivalent site of self-making, rather than simply a realm of individual choice or technological affordance. They examine how young women express affection and love online with close friends, often finding it easier and more secure than face-to-face communication, and through practices like meme-sharing.

Marazziti, D. (2026). Neuroscience of the adult stalker. Forensic Neuroscience and Violence, 422-431.

The chapter explores the neurobiological roots of stalking by focusing on systems underlying the different components of human bonding, such as attraction, attachment/separation, and jealousy, which is deemed a component of love. The author discusses how stalkers may misinterpret empathy for romantic love or attraction, linking stalking behaviors to issues in attachment style and the inability to elaborate on the breakup of a true or imagined relationship. The author further analyzes the stalkers’ neurobiology, suggesting they likely have a “reaction” of love toward the victim, characterized by hyperactivity, euphoria, anxiety, and focused attention on the relationship, similar to the initial phase of falling in love.

Jin, S., Xu, F., Yuan, Z., Niu, G., & Zhou, Z. (2026). Falling in love with AI virtual agents: the role of physical attractiveness and perceived interactivity in parasocial romantic relationships. Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, 13, 284. https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-026-06613-5

The article examines the factors influencing the formation of parasocial romantic relationships with AI virtual agents, distinguishing them from real romantic relationships. Authors reports that the development of parasocial romantic relationships between female university students and AI agents is influenced by the interaction between perceived interactivity and physical attractiveness. They compare the neural correlates of parasocial and real-life romantic experiences using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS).

Larsen, M., Fisher, M., & Salmon, C. (2026). Freedom from nature: Voicing the desires of the first sexual revolution in the epistolary romance of Heloise and Abelard. Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1037/ebs0000401

The article applies evolutionary perspectives to the correspondence of Heloise and Abelard to illuminate how their views on love and pair-bonding reflect cultural roots of modern desires and challenges, such as declining fertility rates and hyper-individualistic mating. The authors investigate the desire of the historical couple, Heloise and Abelard, to free themselves from aspects of their mating nature, with Heloise redefining love to promote gender equality and viewing reproduction as a burden for the intellectually ambitious individual. This way, the authors trace modern mating origins by discussing how the illicit affair inspired new thoughts on gender equality, romantic emotions, and self-realization through pair-bonding, viewing the 12th century as an origin point for modern mating markets.

Ionescu, A., & Lobont, F. (2026). Changing relational insecurity: Logic-based therapy and the preoccupied attachment style. Journal of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology, 46(2), 117–129. https://doi.org/10.1037/teo0000349

The article explores a new method for combining logic-based therapy and attachment theory, specifically focusing on the phenomenology and clinical structure of the preoccupied attachment style. The authors discuss how attachment theory, originally applied to child-parent bonds, has been expanded to investigate and define romantic love and adult couple relationships. They suggest that the epistemic, emotional, and embodied aspects of preoccupied attachment can be positively altered through philosophical argument, emotional virtue development, and embodied reflection.

Hou, L., & Bai, M. (2026). Guangzhou: embroidering visibility, presenting positivity. Inter-Asia Cultural Studies, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/14649373.2026.2636446

The article examines young women’s digitally mediated practices of exploring and maintaining intimate relationships in Guangzhou, China, focusing on how they manage digital intimacy amidst strict state legislation. The authors analyze three ways young women manage digital intimacy, including intricate digital labor on WeChat Moments to protect social boundaries, crafting a positive online self-image, and using dating apps primarily out of curiosity and for friendship. Theydefine intimacy broadly as “closeness, familiarity, and attachment across a spectrum of relationships including the familial, peer-based, and romantic or sexual,” and explores how college-aged women negotiate these connections online.

Lee Bunting, K., Krumeich, A., & Nimmon, L. (2026). A thick description of love’s contours for health professions education. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 1-23. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10459-026-10504-4

The article explores love’s potential as a distinctive and expansive way of relating in health professions education (HPE), challenging hierarchical dynamics. The authors provides a detailed description of love’s nature and requirements, outlining five specific contours: love is transcendent, the “tangibilities” of love, the groundwork for a love practice, a love practice, and love’s promises. They aim to offer a critical descriptive foundation for understanding love as a potentially transformative educational approach within HPE.

DePaulo, B. (2026). The Emerging Field of Singlehood Studies: Centering Single People and Surfacing Systems of Inequality. Sociology Compass, 20(1), e70162.

The article discusses the emerging interdisciplinary field of singlehood studies, which challenges deficit narratives about single life and centers the experiences, strengths, and contributions of single people. The author addresses the concept of “romantic love” in the context of single people, advocating for a singles-centered perspective that views love as a broader concept not limited to romantic relationships.

Williams, L., Kim, S. H., Li, Y., Heshmati, S., Vandekerckhove, J., Roeser, R. W., & Oravecz, Z. (2025). How much we express love predicts how much we feel loved in daily life. PloS one, 20(7), e0323326.

This study explores the connections between feeling and expressing love in daily life, as well as their reciprocal influences. Researchers used ecological momentary assessments to evaluate the reciprocal dynamics of feeling and expressing love and their relations to well-being. Over four weeks, participants rated feeling loved and expressing love six times a day. Results showed that verbal demonstrations of love increased participants’ feelings of being loved, but the experience of felt love did not increase those feelings. Greater love inertia also boosted emotional flourishing. These findings indicate novel psychological ways to improve well-being by deepening loving feelings through demonstrations of affection.

The author has compiled multiple scholarly publications that have been available about the evolutionary science of love over the recent couple of centuries. He systematically reviewed research findings and discoveries focusing on the evolutionary processes that have been occurring throughout thousands and millions of years.

This book presents love and relationships from the perspectives of evolutionary biology, paleontology, archaeology, anthropology, neuroscience, psychology, and other disciplines, presenting the topics on Basic Evolutionary Foundations of Love and How Bodily and Nervous Systems Enable Love.

The Biological Evolution of Love offers the most extensive and comprehensive review of love and relationships resembling love across various species, including plants, birds, and animals, especially mammals, as well as early human ancestors. The chapters of the book include three areas of relationships:

The Biological Evolution of Love in Mating

The Biological Evolution of Love Between Parents and Offspring

The Biological Evolution of Ingroup Love