This study has some limitations. To begin with, our sample size was relatively small, and our findings cannot necessarily be generalized to other non-risk samples. In addition, the number of participants who fell into the -/+ 1 SD illustrative groups plotted in Figure 1 was small (range 1-6). Thus, although our results can be interpreted in light of existing theories (e.g., Bowlby, 1988) and are conceptually consistent with evidence that later close relationship experiences (or representations of those experiences) may alter the consequences of early close relationship experiences (or representations of them) from both the human and non-human literatures (e.g., Harlow & Suomi, 1971; Treboux et al., 2004), replication in larger samples is needed. Furthermore, because our central research question focused on romantic relationships in young adulthood, we did not examine the anxious-depressed symptoms of single participants. Although dropout-control comparisons indicated that our participants were generally representative of the full MLSRA sample, single participants may be different than those who are in established relationships on other, unmeasured variables. Another limitation is the absence of data from participants’ romantic relationship partners
