Risk Factors for Love Addiction in a Sample of Young Adult Students: A Multiple Mediation Model Exploring the Role of Adult Attachment, Separation Anxiety, and Defense Mechanisms
In certain situations, romantic engagement with a partner can have detrimental effects on an individual’s well-being and overall health, exhibiting features attributable to addictive behaviors. Considering the clinical significance of this phenomenon and its prevalence among adolescents and young ad...
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| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Behavioral Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/12/1222 |
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| author | Eleonora Topino Marco Cacioppo Shady Dell’Amico Alessio Gori |
| author_facet | Eleonora Topino Marco Cacioppo Shady Dell’Amico Alessio Gori |
| author_sort | Eleonora Topino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In certain situations, romantic engagement with a partner can have detrimental effects on an individual’s well-being and overall health, exhibiting features attributable to addictive behaviors. Considering the clinical significance of this phenomenon and its prevalence among adolescents and young adults, the objective of this study was to investigate the potential associations between some risk factors for love addiction in a sample of university students, with a specific focus on adult attachment, separation anxiety, and defense mechanisms. A total of 332 participants (M<sub>age</sub> = 23 years; SD = 2.462) completed a survey consisting of the Love Addiction Inventory—Short Form, Relationship Questionnaire, Seven Domains Addiction Scale (Separation Anxiety domain), and Forty Item Defense Style Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, and a multiple mediation model was also implemented. Results showed that fearful attachment was significantly and positively associated with love addiction. Furthermore, this relationship was mediated by separation anxiety and neurotic/immature defense mechanisms too. These findings contribute to the existing literature on love addiction and provide valuable insights for future research and clinical practice. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-fd0b95d4fb0d4b5ba00ea9b21625921c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-328X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Behavioral Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-fd0b95d4fb0d4b5ba00ea9b21625921c2024-12-27T14:11:10ZengMDPI AGBehavioral Sciences2076-328X2024-12-011412122210.3390/bs14121222Risk Factors for Love Addiction in a Sample of Young Adult Students: A Multiple Mediation Model Exploring the Role of Adult Attachment, Separation Anxiety, and Defense MechanismsEleonora Topino0Marco Cacioppo1Shady Dell’Amico2Alessio Gori3Department of Human Sciences, Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta (LUMSA), Via della Traspontina 21, 00193 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Human Sciences, Libera Università Maria Santissima Assunta (LUMSA), Via della Traspontina 21, 00193 Rome, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Via di San Salvi 12, Pad. 26, 50135 Florence, ItalyDepartment of Health Sciences, University of Florence, Via di San Salvi 12, Pad. 26, 50135 Florence, ItalyIn certain situations, romantic engagement with a partner can have detrimental effects on an individual’s well-being and overall health, exhibiting features attributable to addictive behaviors. Considering the clinical significance of this phenomenon and its prevalence among adolescents and young adults, the objective of this study was to investigate the potential associations between some risk factors for love addiction in a sample of university students, with a specific focus on adult attachment, separation anxiety, and defense mechanisms. A total of 332 participants (M<sub>age</sub> = 23 years; SD = 2.462) completed a survey consisting of the Love Addiction Inventory—Short Form, Relationship Questionnaire, Seven Domains Addiction Scale (Separation Anxiety domain), and Forty Item Defense Style Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, and a multiple mediation model was also implemented. Results showed that fearful attachment was significantly and positively associated with love addiction. Furthermore, this relationship was mediated by separation anxiety and neurotic/immature defense mechanisms too. These findings contribute to the existing literature on love addiction and provide valuable insights for future research and clinical practice.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/12/1222adult attachmentseparation anxietydefense mechanismslove addiction |
| spellingShingle | Eleonora Topino Marco Cacioppo Shady Dell’Amico Alessio Gori Risk Factors for Love Addiction in a Sample of Young Adult Students: A Multiple Mediation Model Exploring the Role of Adult Attachment, Separation Anxiety, and Defense Mechanisms Behavioral Sciences adult attachment separation anxiety defense mechanisms love addiction |
| title | Risk Factors for Love Addiction in a Sample of Young Adult Students: A Multiple Mediation Model Exploring the Role of Adult Attachment, Separation Anxiety, and Defense Mechanisms |
| title_full | Risk Factors for Love Addiction in a Sample of Young Adult Students: A Multiple Mediation Model Exploring the Role of Adult Attachment, Separation Anxiety, and Defense Mechanisms |
| title_fullStr | Risk Factors for Love Addiction in a Sample of Young Adult Students: A Multiple Mediation Model Exploring the Role of Adult Attachment, Separation Anxiety, and Defense Mechanisms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk Factors for Love Addiction in a Sample of Young Adult Students: A Multiple Mediation Model Exploring the Role of Adult Attachment, Separation Anxiety, and Defense Mechanisms |
| title_short | Risk Factors for Love Addiction in a Sample of Young Adult Students: A Multiple Mediation Model Exploring the Role of Adult Attachment, Separation Anxiety, and Defense Mechanisms |
| title_sort | risk factors for love addiction in a sample of young adult students a multiple mediation model exploring the role of adult attachment separation anxiety and defense mechanisms |
| topic | adult attachment separation anxiety defense mechanisms love addiction |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/14/12/1222 |
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