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Do Attachment Styles and Family Functioning Predict Adolescents’ Problematic Internet Use? A Relative Weight Analysis

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Abstract

Objectives

The increased use of Internet in the last decade has led to problematic behaviour that can affect people’s individual and social functioning, especially among younger individuals. This study aimed to explore the relation between problematic Internet use (PIU), attachment style, and perception of family functioning in adolescence.

Methods

Participants were 306 Italian adolescents (62.7% females and 37.3% males) aged from 15 to 18 years (M = 16.07, SD = 0.91). Participants completed the following measures: the Young’s Internet Addiction Test (Y-IAT), the Relationship Questionnaire (RQ), and the Family Assessment Device (FAD).

Results

The results of regression and relative weight analyses showed that family functioning and attachment styles were important predictors of adolescent PIU. In particular, a greater perception of family members as being interested in and placing value on each other’s activities and concerns (i.e., affective involvement) and a greater perception that tasks were clearly and equitably assigned to family members (i.e., roles) were associated with less PIU. In contrast, a greater anxious-preoccupied attachment was associated with a greater risk of PIU.

Conclusions

In line with these results, it would be recommendable the development of family-focused prevention programs for all adolescents at risk of PIU before they develop a full Internet addiction. Further research on this topic is needed to develop a specific, autonomous, and comprehensive diagnostic process for PIU to avoid conceptual and treatment overlap between PIU and other kinds of addictive behaviors.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Diane Williams, PhD, from Edanz Group (www.edanzediting.com/ac) for editing a draft of this manuscript.

Author Contributions

M.C. designed and executed the study, assisted with the data analyses, and wrote the paper. D.B. and S.M. analyzed the data and collaborated in the writing of the manuscript. F.D. and C.C. collaborated in the design and writing of the study. A.G. collaborated in the writing and editing of the final manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human Sciences, LUMSA University of Rome, Piazza delle Vaschette, 101, Rome, 00193, Italy

    Marco Cacioppo, Daniela Barni, Cinzia Correale, Sonia Mangialavori & Alessio Gori

  2. Family Studies and Research University Centre, Catholic University of Milan, Milan, Italy

    Francesca Danioni

Authors
  1. Marco Cacioppo
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  2. Daniela Barni
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  3. Cinzia Correale
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  4. Sonia Mangialavori
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  5. Francesca Danioni
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  6. Alessio Gori
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Correspondence to Alessio Gori.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. LUMSA University of Rome provided IRB approval for this study.

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Informed consent was obtained from all individual participants included in the study.

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Cacioppo, M., Barni, D., Correale, C. et al. Do Attachment Styles and Family Functioning Predict Adolescents’ Problematic Internet Use? A Relative Weight Analysis. J Child Fam Stud 28, 1263–1271 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10826-019-01357-0

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