Exploring individual differences in online addictions: The role of identity and attachment
Open accessAbstract
Research examining the development of online addictions has grown greatly over the last decade with many studies suggesting both risk factors and protective factors. In an attempt to integrate the theories of attachment and identity formation, the present study investigated the extent to which identity styles and attachment orientations account for three types of online addiction (i.e., internet addiction, online gaming addiction, and social media addiction). The sample comprised 712 Italian students (381 males and 331 females) recruited from schools and universities who completed an offline self-report questionnaire. The findings showed that addictions to the internet, online gaming, and social media were interrelated and were predicted by common underlying risk and protective factors. Among identity styles, 'informational' and 'diffuse-avoidant' styles were risk factors, whereas 'normative' style was a protective factor. Among attachment dimensions, the 'secure' attachment orientation negatively predicted the three online addictions, and a different pattern of causal relationships were observed between the styles underlying 'anxious' and 'avoidant' attachment orientations. Hierarchical multiple regressions demonstrated that identity styles explained between 21.2 and 30% of the variance in online addictions, whereas attachment styles incrementally explained between 9.2 and 14% of the variance in the scores on the three addiction scales. These findings highlight the important role played by identity formation in the development of online addictions.
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Compared with older generations, youngsters gain access to social media at a much earlier age, and thus feel more comfortable to use social media as a means of communication and are more vulnerable to social media addiction.
“Compared with older generations, youngsters gain access to social media at a much earlier age, and thus feel more comfortable to use social media as a means of communication and are more vulnerable to social media addiction (e.g., Ho, Lwin, & Lee, 2017;Monacis, de Palo, Griffiths, & Sinatra, 2017).”
From Prevalence of social media addiction across 32 nations: Meta-analysis with subgroup analysis of classification schemes and cultural values (2021) · cites this paper as Monacis, de Palo, Griffiths, & Sinatra, 2017
The Results (Descriptive Analyses; page not available) report higher social-media-addiction scores for young adults than for adolescents, contrary to the claim that younger people are more vulnerable. The Discussion (Demographic Factors; page not available) likewise describes a positive relationship with age. The paper does not establish that earlier access makes young people more comfortable communicating through social media. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredSecurely attached individuals appear to be at lower risk of becoming addicted to the internet generally and to social media specifically.
“Because they are characterized by high self-esteem and have good social skills (and thus intimate relationships), they appear to be at lower risk of becoming addicted to the internet generally and to social media specifically (Bashir et al. 2017;Eroglu 2015;Monacis et al. 2017a;Odacı and Çıkrıkçı 2014;Rao and Madan 2012).”
From Addiction to Social Media and Attachment Styles: A Systematic Literature Review (2019) · cites this paper as Monacis et al. 2017a
Avoidant attachment significantly predicted social media addiction and Internet addiction.
“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.”
From Addiction to Social Media and Attachment Styles: A Systematic Literature Review (2019) · cites this paper as Monacis et al. (2017a)
Secure attachment orientation negatively predicts social media addiction and internet addiction.
“Authors have reported that secure attachment orientation negatively predicts social media addiction (Monacis et al. 2017a), and internet addiction (Eichenberg et al. 2017;Monacis et al. 2017a).”
From Addiction to Social Media and Attachment Styles: A Systematic Literature Review (2019) · cites this paper as Monacis et al. 2017a
Internet addiction may be considered an umbrella construct, which contains addictive online activities such as social media addiction.
“et al. (2017a) noted that internet addiction may be considered as an umbrella construct, which contains addictive online activities such as social media addiction.”
From Addiction to Social Media and Attachment Styles: A Systematic Literature Review (2019) · cites this paper as Monacis et al. 2017a
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References 88 · Cited by 159
Research works printed but not linked: 8
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- Authors
- Monacis, L., de Palo, V., Griffiths, M. D., & Sinatra, M.
- Affiliations
- University of Foggia (IT)
- Nottingham Trent University (GB)
- Corresponding author
- Griffiths, Mark D.
- Venue
- International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction
- Published
- 2017-05-03
- Volume
- 15
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 853-868
- ISSN
- 1557-1874 (ISSN-L)
- 1557-1882
- PMC
- PMC5529496
- OpenAlex
- W2610228763
- Cited by
- 159
- References
- 88
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 22 · 2024: 17 · 2023: 18 · 2022: 22 · 2021: 16 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 25 · 2018: 9 · 2017: 7
- FWCI
- 41.32
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Locations
- International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Nottingham Trent University's Institutional Repository (Nottingham Trent Repository) (acceptedVersion)
- Funders
- Nottingham Trent University
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
- Keywords
- internet addiction, online game addiction, social media addiction, identity styles, attachment styles, identity construction, risk and protective factors, secure attachment, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, university students
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