Author
Arıkan, Gizem, Acar, İbrahim Hakkı, Ustundag-Budak, A. M.
Publication Date
2022-01
Publication Place
-
Elsevier
Subject
Attachment, Mental health, Social media use, Transgenerational transmission
Type
Periodical
Language
English
Digital
Yes
Manuscript
No
Library
Özyeğin University
Library Asset ID
0306-4603
Record ID
209a9a1b-5dac-44ce-938a-653f1e4bd22d
Library Location
Psychology
Date
2022-01
Sample Text
Social media use is on the rise among young adults (YA) and evidence suggests a positive association between social media addiction (SMA) and the psychological symptoms of depression and anxiety globally. However, the contribution of attachment and its transgenerational influence on YAs’ SMA and psychological symptoms have not been widely explored. Thus, we examined how parental reports of attachment (anxiety and avoidance) can directly and through YAs’ attachment predict YAs’ SMA, depression and anxiety symptoms. A sample of 375 YAs (MAge = 21.22) and their parents completed the Emotions in Close Relationships-Revised Questionnaire (Fraley et al., 2000), and the Brief Symptom Inventory (Deragotis, 1992). The SMA Scale (Sahin, 2018) was responded to by only YAs. We tested the pattern of associations in a path model. Parental attachment anxiety predicted YAs’ attachment anxiety and only paternal attachment avoidance predicted YAs’ attachment avoidance. YAs’ attachment anxiety and avoidance predicted their depression and anxiety. However, YAs’ attachment anxiety uniquely predicted their SMA. Both parents’ attachment anxiety indirectly predicted the link between YAs’ attachment anxiety and depression, but only paternal attachment avoidance indirectly predicted the association between YAs’ attachment avoidance and depression. Furthermore, paternal attachment avoidance indirectly predicted the association between YAs’ attachment avoidance and anxiety symptoms. Maternal attachment anxiety indirectly predicted SMA via YAs’ attachment anxiety. While parental anxiety and paternal avoidance may impact YAs’ symptoms, YAs’ and maternal attachment anxiety can shape SMA. The findings about the differential role of attachment in YAs’ psychological symptoms and SMA can facilitate further research and interventions.
DOI
10.1016/j.addbeh.2021.107109
Cilt
124
