The role of attachment style and social anxiety in Internet addiction

Pathological Internet use is characterized by excessive or poorly controlled preoccupations or behaviors regarding computer use that results in impairments or distress. Previous studies reported high comorbidity of Internet addiction with psychiatric conditions like affective and anxiety disorders. Among anxiety disorders, social anxiety is often associated with relational impairments in adolescent. Many studies suggested that social anxiety is promoted by an insecure attachment style. Attachment style plays an important role in socio-emotional relationships with others and forms the generalized basis of self worth. Insecure attachment, in particular, implicates a higher non specific risk factor for psychopathologies. Previous study reported that attachment style predicts online social interaction in the same way that it does in the offline context. Individuals with high attachment anxiety have more frequent internet use and are constantly concerned about how others perceive them. Insecure attachment and social anxiety were reported to be more strongly associated with Internet Addiction. Thus, the association between the insecure attachment style and social anxiety seems to have a very relevant role as risk factors for the problematic use of Internet.