The effect of childhood trauma on social networking websites addiction among Chinese college students: A moderated mediation model of insecure attachment and basic psychological need satisfaction

Abstract

Abstract People who experience childhood trauma are prone to developing psychiatric disorders and addictive behaviors. However, the relationship between childhood trauma and specific types of internet use (e.g., social media) has not been exactly proven. This study aims to explain the relationship between childhood trauma and social networking websites addiction by testing the possible mediating role of insecure attachment and the moderating role of basic psychological need satisfaction. A sample of 1281 Chinese college students was tested by using a series of self-report questionnaires on childhood trauma, attachment, basic psychological need satisfaction, and social networking websites addiction. The results showed that the relationship between childhood trauma and social networking websites addiction showed positively, furthermore, attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance mediated this relationship; Moderated mediation analyses showed that the pathway between childhood trauma and social networking websites addiction was moderated by basic psychological need satisfaction. Results suggest college students with Childhood trauma experience and insecure attachment styles may be at higher risk for social networking websites addiction and support intervention efforts for fostering attachment and basic psychological need satisfaction relationship to attenuate the association between childhood trauma experience and social networking websites addiction.