The Pathway From Attachment Styles to Addiction in Romantic Relationships: The Mediating Roles of Psychological Flexibility and Difficulties in Emotion Regulation

Hatun O., Seven B.

Journal of Social and Personal Relationships, 2026 (SSCI, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Basım Tarihi: 2026
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1177/02654075261454135
  • Dergi Adı: Journal of Social and Personal Relationships
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, IBZ Online, CINAHL, ComAbstracts, EBSCO Education Source, Educational research abstracts (ERA), Gender Studies Database, Psycinfo, Violence & Abuse Abstracts, EBSCO Communication Source, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCO), Business Source Ultimate (EBSCO), Communication Source (EBSCO), Education Source Ultimate (EBSCO), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest), Sociology Source Ultimate (EBSCO)
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: addiction in romantic relationships, attachment styles, difficulties in emotion regulation, psychological flexibility
  • Marmara Üniversitesi Adresli: Hayır

Özet

The present study aimed to examine the mediating roles of psychological flexibility (PF) and difficulties in emotion regulation (DER) in the relationship between attachment styles and addiction in romantic relationships (ARR). The participants consisted of 522 adults from Türkiye, aged between 18 and 55 years (M = 29.28, SD = 8.36), who were recruited online. Data were collected using the Three-Dimensional Attachment Style Scale, the Psychological Flexibility in Romantic Relationships Scale, the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale-8, and the Addiction in Romantic Relationships Scale. Pearson correlation analysis was conducted to examine the relationships among the variables. Serial mediation was tested using path analysis within a structural equation modeling (SEM) framework, and the significance of direct and indirect effects was evaluated using bootstrapping. The results indicated that secure and anxious attachment were significantly associated with PF, DER, and ARR. Avoidant attachment, however, was not significantly associated with ARR. Additionally, PF, DER, and ARR interrelated. Path analysis further showed that secure and anxious attachment indirectly associated with ARR through PF and DER. Overall, the findings suggest that PF and emotion regulation processes may be relevant targets for promoting healthier romantic relationship functioning.