Relationship Between Attachment Anxiety and Attachment Avoidance, Mentalization Ability, and Various Digital Addictions: A Cross-Sectional Study Among University Students (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND The increasing prevalence of digital media has led to a rise in behavioral addictions, such as smartphone and social media addiction. Previous research suggests that insecure attachment styles (attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance) play a role in the development of these addictions. However, the significance of mentalization ability, the capacity to recognize and interpret one's own and others' mental states, has not yet been thoroughly explored. OBJECTIVE This study examines the relationship between attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, mentalization ability, and digital addictions among students in Germany and Austria. Specifically, it analyzes whether mentalization ability moderates the relationship between attachment insecurities and digital addictions. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted with N = 324 students from Germany and Austria. Participants completed questionnaires assessing their attachment style (ECR-RD), mentalization ability (MZQ-6), and forms of digital addiction (smartphone, social media). Multiple regression analyses were used to explore the relationships between these variables RESULTS The results show that attachment anxiety is a significant predictor of digital addiction, particularly social media addiction. Attachment avoidance also showed significant, albeit weaker, associations. Mentalization ability was found to moderate the relationship between attachment avoidance and social media addiction, indicating a complex interaction. CONCLUSIONS This study enhances the understanding of digital addictions by highlighting the role of mentalization ability. The findings underscore the importance of considering both attachment styles and mentalization skills in prevention and treatment strategies. Future research should explore therapies that integrate attachment and mentalization-based approaches to treat digital addictions in a more targeted way.