The Mediating Role of Attachment Styles in the Relationship between Mental Health and Internet Addiction in Adolescents

In recent years, computers and the Internet have entered all parts of people’s life. One of the problems that may arise is Internet addiction, which has been reported as a new disorder with a number of related psychiatric disorders. This study aimed to determine the structural relationships between mental health and internet addiction in adolescents, regarding meditating the role of attachment styles.

This study was descriptive-correlational. Participants were 310 high school students of Karaj in 2018-19, selected by purposive sampling. The instruments were the Goldberg and Hiller Health Questionnaires (1979), the internet Addiction Questionnaire (Yang, 1998), and Attachment Styles (Hazan and Shaver, 1987). To measure the validity of the structure of the research variables, the measurement model and Amos software were used.

The results of the models showed that all research scales have a suitable fit. Mental health, in addition to its direct role, has been able to significantly explain the symptoms of Internet addiction through attachment styles.

Based on these findings, it can be concluded that paying attention to a conscious parenting can lead to a secure attachment style. And consequently, by creating mental health, the harm of internet addiction in adolescence can be prevented. It is suggested to consider the role of mental health and attachment styles in prevention and treatment interventions of internet addiction.