Attachment anxiety, loneliness, and death anxiety in problematic social media use

Problematic social media use (PSMU) has emerged as a growing concern due to its association with mental health challenges and social functioning difficulties. We investigated the role of attachment anxiety, loneliness (i.e., isolation, relational disconnectedness, and trait loneliness), and death anxiety in PSMU. A sample of 799 adult social media users (412 women, 387 men) aged 18-65 completed a battery of self-report questionnaires and socio-demographic data. A sequential mediation model tested whether loneliness and death anxiety mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety and PSMU, controlling for age and gender. Attachment anxiety was positively associated with PSMU, with this relationship mediated by isolation and relational disconnectedness. Additionally, death anxiety mediated the relationship between attachment anxiety, relational disconnectedness, and PSMU. These findings underscore the significance underlying psychological processes in PSMU, suggesting potential avenues for targeted interventions that address attachment-related insecurities, relational disconnectedness, and existential concerns.