@article{article_1752273, title={The Mediating Effect of Loneliness on the Relationship Between Social Media Addiction and Attachment Styles: A Multiple Mediation Model Study}, journal={Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi}, pages={161–175}, year={2026}, DOI={10.53568/yyusbed.1752273}, url={https://izlik.org/JA83RT65HF}, author={Kotan, Hümeyra and Özok, Halil İbrahim and Kaya, Alican}, keywords={Sosyal medya, sosyal medya bağımlılığı, yalnızlık, bağlanma stilleri}, abstract={Humans, as social beings, naturally engage with others and sustain these interactions in different ways. Alongside technological progress, social media platforms have become essential tools for meeting people’s communication needs. Easy access to social media platforms and their various apps results in more frequent use. The negative aspects of social media, like addiction, become evident. Individuals who frequently experience negative interactions on social media tend to prefer online communication over in-person contact, which may lead to increased feelings of loneliness. Adverse childhood experiences or challenges in establishing secure attachments with parents may result in heightened risks and diminished psychological resilience in later life. Therefore, this research sought to examine the mediating role of loneliness in the relationship between attachment styles and social media addiction. The study group consisted of 554 participants aged 18 and above (M = 25.10, SD = 7.60). The research found that attachment styles, loneliness levels, and social media addiction were consistent across different genders, ages, daily internet and social media use, and the duration of social media accounts. Social media addiction is negatively associated with secure attachment and positively associated with other attachment styles. Similar correlations are found between loneliness and attachment styles. Results indicate that loneliness acts as a mediator in the relationship between secure attachment and social media addiction. The findings of the present study are of considerable significance and suggest that interventions designed to mitigate the detrimental effects of loneliness could serve as a preventive measure against social media addiction, thereby providing practical implications for mental health practitioners and policymakers.}, number={71}