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Cited by 73Attachment and Relationship DynamicsSubstance Abuse Treatment and OutcomesGambling Behavior and Treatments

Insecure attachment and addiction: Testing the mediating role of emotion dysregulation in four potentially addictive behaviors

Liese, Bruce S., Kim, Hyoun S., Hodgins, David C.·2020·Addictive Behaviors
DOI 10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106432
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Abstract

Insecure attachment has been associated with an array of addictive behaviors. However, the mechanism by which insecure attachment leads to addictive behaviors remains largely unknown. In the present research we tested whether emotion dysregulation mediated the relationship between insecure attachment (anxious, avoidant) in substance use (alcohol, marijuana) and DSM-5 (Internet gaming) and non-DSM-5 (texting) behavioral dependencies. A sample (N = 712) of participants recruited from a university in the United States completed an online battery of instruments, assessing adult attachment style, emotion dysregulation, and self-reported DSM-5 symptoms adapted from substance use disorder criteria. In separate mediation analyses, anxious attachment was associated with self-reported DSM-5 symptoms for alcohol, marijuana, texting, but not Internet gaming; whereas emotion dysregulation was associated with self-reported DSM-5 symptoms of all four potentially addictive behaviors. Avoidant attachment was not associated with self-reported DSM-5 symptoms for any of the addictive behaviors. Emotion dysregulation mediated the relationship between both anxious and avoidant attachment and self-reported DSM-5 symptoms for alcohol, marijuana, and texting. In contrast, emotion dysregulation mediated the relationship between anxious but not avoidant attachment and Internet gaming. Insecure attachment, specifically anxious attachment and emotion dysregulation may be important psychological characteristics that increase the risk for alcohol, marijuana and texting, while Internet gaming corresponds with unique characteristics. Whereas attachment styles may be resistant to change, emotion dysregulation has been found to be modifiable and may provide a potential target in the treatment of substance use disorders and some behavioral dependencies for those who manifest attachment insecurities.

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  • When a child's sense of attachment becomes chronically disorganized, lifelong problems with relationships, the core sense of self or identity, suicidality, and addictions may develop.

    “When a child’s sense of attachment becomes chronically disorganized, lifelong problems with relationships, the core sense of self or identity, suicidality, and addictions may develop [80, 104, 114, 164, 167].”

    From Complex PTSD and borderline personality disorder (2021) · cites this paper as [104]

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Authors
Liese, B. S., Kim, H. S., & Hodgins, D. C.
Affiliations
  • University of Kansas (US)
  • University of Calgary (CA)
Corresponding author
Liese, Bruce S.
ORCID
Venue
Addictive Behaviors
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2020-08
Volume
107
Pages
106432
ISSN
0306-4603 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106432
OpenAlex
W3014885313
Cited by
73
References
47
Citations by year
2026: 11 · 2025: 12 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 16 · 2021: 11 · 2020: 2
FWCI
10.66
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Addictive Behaviors (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Attachment and Relationship Dynamics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Gambling Behavior and Treatments
Keywords
insecure attachment, emotional dysregulation, attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, substance use disorders, alcohol consumption, cannabis use, internet gaming disorder, behavioral addiction, mediation, attachment styles
MeSH terms
Adult, Anxiety, Emotions, Humans, Object Attachment, Behavior, Addictive, Substance-Related Disorders

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