The Effect of Parent Attachment in Adolescent on Internet Addiction Tendency: The Mediating Effects of Emotional Regulation Ability

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examined the mediating effects of emotional regulation ability between parent attachment and internet addiction tendency. Inventory of parent attachment, internet addiction scale, and emotional regulation ability scale were administered to 500 students in middle and high school in Seoul and Gyeonggi-do and data from 422 students were analyzed. The results of this study are summarized as follows : parent attachment showed a positive correlation with emotional regulation ability, whereas parent attachment showed a negative correlation with internet addiction tendency. Emotional regulation ability showed a negative correlation with internet addiction tendency. Finding in structural equation modeling indicated that emotional regulation ability fully mediates the relation of parent attachment and internet addiction tendency. This study suggests that emotional regulation ability is an important factor in relation of parent attachment and internet addiction tendency. The results implicate that it is necessary to evaluate and intervene in emotional regulation ability in prevention and treatment of internet addiction.