The Structural Effect of Attachment Style and Childhood Trauma in the Family on Internet Addiction Mediated by Locus of Control

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 اهنگ شرقی بلوار ابوذر چهار راه زمزم ربذه جنوبی کوچه ذوالفقاری پلاک ۲۴ واحد ۵

2 Assistant professor, Department of psychology, Payame Noor university, Tehran, Iran.

3 Assistant professot, Department of Psychology, Sha.C., Islamic Azad University, Shahrood, Iran.

10.22098/jfrs.2025.17492.1246

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of the present study was The structural effect of attachment style and childhood trauma in the family on internet addiction mediated by locus of control.

Method: The research adopted a correlational design based on structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population of this study includes all female students in schools in Tehran (due to examining gender differences) aged 12 to 18 years during the academic year 2023-2024. Data were collected using the Adolescent Attachment Styles Inventory (AAI), Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ), Internet Addiction Test (IAT) and Rotter’s Locus of Control Scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS 25 and Smart PLS 3 software.

Results: The findings showed a significant positive correlation between internet addiction and both insecure attachment style (especially the anxious subtype) and childhood trauma (particularly emotional abuse and neglect). Furthermore, external locus of control was identified as a mediating variable in these relationships.

Discussion and Conclusion: These results are consistent with Bowlby’s attachment theory and underscore the critical role of psychological interventions aimed at fostering secure attachment and enhancing internal locus of control in the prevention and treatment of internet addiction. It is recommended that future research employ longitudinal designs to further explore these relationships

Keywords

Journal of Family Relations Studies

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 19 November 2025

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History

  • Receive Date: 24 May 2025
  • Revise Date: 12 October 2025
  • Accept Date: 19 November 2025

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