Relationship between Childhood Maltreatment and Internet Addiction in University Students: Mediating Role of Attachment Styles and Coping Strategies

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran

2 M.A of Clinical Psychology, Department of Clinical Psychology, Faculty of Humanity and Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan, Sanandaj, Iran.

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between childhood maltreatment (CM) and internet addiction (IA) among university students by determining the mediating role of attachment styles and coping strategies.
Method: This research was a cross-sectional correlational study using the structural equation analysis method. The study population consist of all university students in Mashhad city, and among them, a sample of 497 students was selected using convenience sampling method. The research tools included internet addiction test (IAT), childhood maltreatment questionnaires-short form (CTQ-SF), revised adult attachment scale (RAAS), and coping inventory for stressful situations (CISS). Data were analyzed by Pearson correlation method and structural equation modeling.
Results: The results showed that there is a positive and significant correlation between CM and IA in students. The bootstrap results indicated that among attachment styles, avoidant attachment style and among coping strategies, avoidant and problem-oriented strategies can play a positive and meaningful mediating role in the relationship between childhood maltreatment and Internet addiction.
Conclusion: Considering the importance of the sensitive period of childhood and the lasting effects of traumatic experiences on the formation of insecure attachment styles and its subsequent consequences in adulthood including the use of ineffective coping strategies such as problematic use of internet to cope with unpleasant feelings caused by childhood maltreatments, the results of this study can provide practical implications for informing parents through educational programs.

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Main Subjects

References

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    Khosroabadi, JB, Hashemi Nosratabadi, T. The relationship of attachment styles, coping strategies, and mental health in internet addiction, Developmental Psychology, 2021, 8(30); 177-

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History

  • Receive Date: 22 February 2024
  • Revise Date: 22 June 2024
  • Accept Date: 30 June 2024

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