From attachment anxiety to short video addiction: the roles of attentional control and alexithymia
Su H, Luo D, Wang H, Li X, He Y
Frontiers in psychology · 0 citations
How it was studied
- Design
- Cross-sectional study (classified by our AI screen)
- Studied in
- People
- Main outcome
- Health markers and function
Who paid for it
- Funding
- Independent funding
Based on full-text disclosure statement.
Publication
- Published
- 2026-03-26 · Front Psychol · vol. 17 · p. 1764536
- Publisher
- Frontiers Media
- Cited
- 2 citations · more than 99% of similar papers · 17.3× the field average
- Impact
- Top 10% most cited in its field
- References
- 63 works
- Access
- Open access (journal) · CC-BY
- Research areas
- Attachment and Relationship Dynamics · Impact of Technology on Adolescents · Eating Disorders and Behaviors
- Keywords
- short video addiction, attachment anxiety, attentional control, alexithymia, young adults, university students, mediation, attachment theory, Chinese young adults
5 authors
From CN
- Haodong SuAnhui University of Science and Technology; Anhui Science and Technology University
- Dan Luo
- Hongyu WangAnhui University of Science and Technology; Anhui Science and Technology University
- Xiaodong Li · correspondingAnhui University of Science and Technology; Anhui Science and Technology University
- Ye He · corresponding
Abstract
Introduction
Short video addiction is a prevalent behavioral phenomenon among young adults, but its underlying mechanisms are not well understood. Guided by attachment theory, this study examined associations between attachment anxiety, attentional control, alexithymia, and short video addiction.
Methods
A total of 342 Chinese university students completed self-report measures assessing attachment anxiety, attentional control, alexithymia, and short video addiction. Mediation analyses were conducted to investigate the indirect associations between attachment anxiety and addictive tendencies through attentional control and alexithymia.
Results
Attachment anxiety was positively associated with higher levels of short video addiction. Indirect associations were observed via two pathways: lower attentional control and higher alexithymia. Additionally, a sequential association was identified, whereby lower attentional control was linked to higher alexithymia, which in turn was related to stronger addictive tendencies.
Discussion
These findings provide an integrative framework describing how attachment-related vulnerabilities relate to cognitive and emotional characteristics associated with short video addiction. The results highlight potential factors to consider in strategies aimed at preventing or addressing addictive behaviors among young adults.
Abstract via Europe PMC. Copyright remains with the authors or publisher (CC BY).
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