Failure in reflective functioning as a key factor in the association between problematic social networking sites use, attachment and childhood maltreatment: A network analysis approach on gender differences

Abstract

Following a network analysis approach, the present study aims to explore the pattern of mutual relationships between failure in reflective functioning (RF) – defined as hypomentalization – problematic social networking sites use (PSNSU), attachment anxiety and avoidance, and childhood maltreatment among emerging adults, with a focus on gender differences. The study sample comprises N = 1,614 emerging adults (Mage = 23.84; SD = 3.21; 50% identified themselves as women) who completed online self-assessment measures. Results showed significantly greater PSNSU, hypomentalization, childhood emotional abuse, and both attachment avoidance and anxiety among women. Indeed, within the network analysis, performed separately for men and women, network-specific associative patterns were observed; yet also similarities have emerged. Within the women’s network, differently from males, attachment avoidance connects, through attachment anxiety, to emotional abuse, mood modification related to PSNSU, and hypomentalization. Nonetheless, hypomentalization was central in both networks, functioning as a hub between attachment anxiety, the PSNSU cluster, and the childhood maltreatment cluster. These results shed light on the use of social network sites as a potential maladaptive emotion regulation strategy, particularly among women. In this regard, the role of RF should be considered as a key treatment target to reduce PSNSU and support the use of adaptive emotion regulation strategies.

Insecure Minds through the Looking Glass: The Mediating Role of Mentalization in the Relationships between Adult Attachment Styles and Problematic Social Media Use

“…These findings extend to previous research showing that the positive relationships between preoccupied attachment style and PSMU, and between fearful attachment style and PSMU, might be explained by different factors, such as the tendency to excessively resort to fantasy [ 47 ], low self-esteem [ 101 ], the fear of missing out [ 49 ], and so on. In fact, anxious attachment attitudes, stemming from a negative view of the self, may foster failures in mentalizing, which in turn may increase the dysfunctional use of social media platforms in order to meet one’s own relational needs and to alleviate negative feelings [ 16 , 77 ].…”

“…The current study was carried out as a component of a broader research project, which obtained approval from the Ethics Committee of the Center for Research and Psychological Intervention (CERIP) of the University of Messina (protocol code: 119094). A previous, reduced version of the dataset was employed to perform a study on the relationship between child maltreatment, adult attachment, failures in mentalizing, and PSMU in N = 1614 emerging adults (807 females, 50%) aged between 18 and 30 years old (M = 23.84; SD = 3.21) [ 77 ]. The study was conducted in adherence to the Helsinki Declaration.…”

“…Accordingly, failures in mentalizing one’s own and others’ mental states might lead to the development and maintenance of PSMU as a coping strategy to deal with unprocessed feelings and to avoid the perceived unpredictability of face-to-face interactions [ 72 , 73 ]. Bassi and colleagues [ 77 ] examined the relationships between childhood maltreatment, anxious and avoidance attachment attitudes, failures in mentalizing, and PSMU symptoms in a sample of emerging adults. Results show that failures in mentalizing were directly associated with increased levels of childhood maltreatment, anxious attachment attitudes, and PSMU symptoms.…”