Love as a protective buffer against existential anxiety

Abstract

Introduction and objective: This study attempts to provide insights into the relationship between love and existential anxiety among adult Poles. It has been frequently pointed out in the literature that love is crucial for human well-being and quality of life. Positive relationships, closeness, and love can have a protective effect against existential emptiness. Based on the literature, existential anxiety is thought to be inversely related to passion, intimacy, and commitment in love. Materials and methods: A sample of 274 adult participants from the general population (142 women and 132 men) was examined. The mean age of the subjects was 33.45 (standard deviation, SD = 15.89). The subjects completed two questionnaires, one focused on love (Triangular Love Scale by Sternberg), and the other one on existential anxiety (Existential Anxiety Questionnaire by Weems and associates). Results: The results of multiple regressions analyses indicate that passion and intimacy are significant predictors of existential anxiety, while commitment in love is not related to existential fear. Higher intimacy and passion levels are associated with lower existential anxiety. Conclusions: Our results provide evidence for the importance of love, close relationships, intimacy, and passion in the process of alleviating existential anxiety. Happy persons, who create positive bonds with others, perceive their lives as valuable, and meaningful. They do not feel lonely and they do not experience intense existential anxiety. Closeness and positive feelings thus seem to have a protective effect against an “existential vacuum”. Our research can guide therapists working with patients who suffer existential anxiety.