The Role of Attachment Styles, Peer Relations, and Affections in Predicting Internet Addiction

Abstract

The role of attachment styles, peer relations and affections in predicting Internet addiction is scrutinized in this study. It has been conducted with a total of 2,440 volunteer adolescents, out of which 1,588 are females and 852 are males, all between 14 and 19 years old and attending various high schools in Elazığ' s city center. In this study, the short form of the young Internet addiction test, the Relationship Scale Questionnaire, the Friendship Qualities Scale, and the Positive and Negative Affect Scale were used as data collection tools. Collected data were analyzed through correlational, multiple, and stepwise regression analyses. Study findings demonstrate that the independent variables of attachment styles, peer relations, and affections explain approximately 19% of Internet addiction. Furthermore, Internet addiction among adolescents was observed to be predominantly predicted by the variables of negative affection, conflict, and secure attachment. Attachment styles, peer relations, and affections were determined to predict Internet addiction, and the contribution of affections in this prediction is striking. The results are discussed within the framework of the literature, and recommendations have been given for future studies and applications.

Addiction to Social Media and Attachment Styles: A Systematic Literature Review

“…It includes the inclinations that arise from these networks to do thing for each other (cooperation, trust, and reciprocity) Contrary to these results, Monacis et al (2017a) found that avoidant attachment significantly predicted social media addiction, and Savcı and Aysan (2016) showed that it also predicted Internet addiction. Problematic internet use has been correlated with both being anxious (Assunção et al 2017;Mazaheri Nejadfard and Hosseinsabet 2017;Reiner et al 2017;Savcı and Aysan 2016;Shin et al 2011) and having avoidant attachment (Kozan et al 2016;Odacı and Çıkrıkçı 2014;Shin et al 2011). Blackwell et al (2017) reported that both anxious and avoidant attachment were correlated with social media addiction, and that was before they included Bfear of missing out^ (FOMO;Przybylski et al 2013) in their model.…”

Technological Addictions and Social Connectedness: Predictor Effect of Internet Addiction, Social Media Addiction, Digital Game Addiction and Smartphone Addiction on Social Connectedness

“…This leads to a more intense use of the virtual world in maintaining communications and relationships (86). However, Savci and Aysan (87) found that the internet contributed to the coalescence of adolescents with their friends and that adolescents with high internet addiction experienced a higher level of peer association. Therefore, the question arises: "Does internet use have different consequences for individuals with different personality traits?"…”

“…Therefore, these addictions should be taken into consideration in social connectedness work and studies. Real social environments are considered to be an effective factor in the development of social connectedness (55) and in the prevention and treatment of technological addictions (87,95). For this reason, adolescents should be directed to real social environments by their parents and their school teachers.…”

Relationship between Internet Addiction, Gaming Addiction and School Engagement among Adolescents

“…A positive relationship was found in a study conducted with Korean youngsters between Internet addiction and depression and suicidal thoughts [24]. Savcı and Aysan [25] found that there is a weak positive relationship between Internet addiction and compulsive attachment, indifferent attachment, fearful attachment, and agreement and conflict while being moderately and positively related to negative affection. A weak negative relationship was also found between Internet addiction and secure attachment, protection, intimacy, help and positive affection.…”