Presenting a Model of Virtual Social Networks Addiction Based on Attachment Styles with Mediating Role of Perceived Social Support in Female High School Students

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 PhD Student, Department of Psychology, UAE Branch, Islamic Azad University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

2 Department of Psychology, UAE Branch, Islamic Azad University, Dubai, United Arab Emirates

3 Department of Psychology, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

4 Department of Psychology, Tonekabon Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tonekabon, Iran

10.22034/jmpr.2023.58815.5888

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate presenting a model of virtual social networks addiction based on attachment styles with mediating role of perceived social support in female student’s high school. The research is applicative and the research method was correlational through structural equations modeling. The statistical population was all female students of first and high school in Karaj city in academic year of 2022-2023. The sample size was selected based on Kline mode and with convenience sampling (online method) of 400 students. Data collection tools included the social networking addiction scale (SNAS), version adult attachment scale (RAAS) and multidimensional perceived social support scale (MSPSS). Statistical analysis of data was performed using AMOS-24 software. The results showed that secure attachment style (p<0.05, β = -.62), avoidant insecure attachment style (p<0.05, β = .37) and anxious insecure attachment style (p<0.05, β = .31) has a significant direct effect on virtual social networks addiction. Finally, perceived social support (p<0.05, β = -.36) has a significant direct effect on virtual social networks and was able significant mediating role in the relationship between attachment styles and virtual social networks addiction. Also, proposed model had an acceptable fitness to the data (RMSEA=0/066, p<0/05) and analyses also revealed that %83 of variance of virtual social networks addiction was explained. It can be concluded that according to the significant mediating role of perceived social support, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of virtual social networks addiction in female high school by using effective interventions such as social support training and attachment-based interventions.

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Main Subjects


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