| Literature DB >> 32038342 |
Abstract
Evidence supports predictive roles of adult attachment orientations for the maintenance of social networking site (SNS) addiction, but the underlying mechanisms are mostly unknown. Based on attachment theory, this study explored whether online social support and the fear of missing out mediated the relationship between insecure attachment and social networking site addiction among 463 college students in China. A questionnaire was used to collect data using the Experience in Close Relationship Scale-Short Form, online social support scale, fear of missing out scale, and Chinese Social Media Addiction Scale. The results showed that online social support and fear of missing out mediated the relationship between anxious attachment and social networking site addiction in parallel paths and serially, and online social support negatively mediated the relationship between avoidant attachment and social networking site addiction. Theoretically, the present study contributes to the field by showing how insecure attachment is linked to SNS addiction. Practically, these findings could aid in future studies on SNS addiction prevention and interventions. Limitations of the present study were discussed.Entities:
Keywords: adult attachment; anxious attachment; fear of missing out; online social support; social networking site addiction
Year: 2019 PMID: 32038342 PMCID: PMC6988780 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02629
Source DB: PubMed Journal: Front Psychol ISSN: 1664-1078
Figure 1The hypothesized model of present study.
Descriptive statistics and results of correlational analysis of variables (N = 463).
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Attachment avoidance | 1 | ||||
| 2. Attachment anxiety | 0.17 | 1 | |||
| 3. Online social support | −0.04 | 0.31 | 1 | ||
| 4. FOMO | 0.07 | 0.36 | 0.37 | 1 | |
| 5. SNS addiction | 0.07 | 0.39 | 0.51 | 0.56 | 1 |
Correlation is significant at the 0.01 level (two-tailed).
Figure 2The unstandardized coefficients of the model. All the paths were significant, except the path from avoidant attachment to FOMO and SNS addiction. Gender was added as a control variable.
Indirect effect between insecure attachments and SNS addiction (N = 463).
| Indirect effects path | Estimate | 95% CI | SE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Total indirect effects from anxiety to SNS addiction | 0.92 | 0.66–1.19 | 0.14 | <0.001 |
| Anxiety → online social support →SNS addiction | 0.28 | 0.11–0.46 | 0.09 | <0.01 |
| Anxiety → FOMO →SNS addiction | 0.51 | 0.36–0.67 | 0.08 | <0.001 |
| Anxiety →FOMO → online social support →SNS addiction | 0.13 | 0.07–0.21 | 0.04 | <0.001 |
| Total indirect effects from avoidance to SNS addiction | −0.02 | −0.34 to 0.10 | −0.98 | =0.33 |
| Avoidance → online social support →SNS addiction | −0.03 | −0.27 to −0.02 | 0.02 | <0.05 |
| Avoidance→ FOMO →SNS addiction | 0.01 | −0.11 to −0.14 | 0.02 | =0.78 |
| Avoidance →FOMO → online social support →SNS addiction | 0.01 | −0.03 to 0.04 | 0.28 | =0.78 |