Failure in reflective functioning as a key factor in the association between problematic social networking sites use, attachment and childhood maltreatment: A network analysis approach on gender differences

Bassi, Giulia; Mancinelli, Elisa; Salcuni, Silvia; Gori, Alessio; Musetti, Alessandro

doi:10.1017/s0954579423001268

Dev Psychopathol

2023

DOI: 10.1017/s0954579423001268

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Failure in reflective functioning as a key factor in the association between problematic social networking sites use, attachment and childhood maltreatment: A network analysis approach on gender differences

Giulia Bassi

¹

,

Elisa Mancinelli

²

,

Silvia Salcuni

³

et al.

Abstract: Following a network analysis approach, the present study aims to explore the pattern of mutual relationships between failure in reflective functioning (RF) – defined as hypomentalization – problematic social networking sites use (PSNSU), attachment anxiety and avoidance, and childhood maltreatment among emerging adults, with a focus on gender differences. The study sample comprises N = 1,614 emerging adults (Mage = 23.84; SD = 3.21; 50% identified themselves as women) who completed online self-assessment measu… Show more

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Cited by 3 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…These findings extend to previous research showing that the positive relationships between preoccupied attachment style and PSMU, and between fearful attachment style and PSMU, might be explained by different factors, such as the tendency to excessively resort to fantasy [ 47 ], low self-esteem [ 101 ], the fear of missing out [ 49 ], and so on. In fact, anxious attachment attitudes, stemming from a negative view of the self, may foster failures in mentalizing, which in turn may increase the dysfunctional use of social media platforms in order to meet one’s own relational needs and to alleviate negative feelings [ 16 , 77 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The current study was carried out as a component of a broader research project, which obtained approval from the Ethics Committee of the Center for Research and Psychological Intervention (CERIP) of the University of Messina (protocol code: 119094). A previous, reduced version of the dataset was employed to perform a study on the relationship between child maltreatment, adult attachment, failures in mentalizing, and PSMU in N = 1614 emerging adults (807 females, 50%) aged between 18 and 30 years old (M = 23.84; SD = 3.21) [ 77 ]. The study was conducted in adherence to the Helsinki Declaration.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Accordingly, failures in mentalizing one’s own and others’ mental states might lead to the development and maintenance of PSMU as a coping strategy to deal with unprocessed feelings and to avoid the perceived unpredictability of face-to-face interactions [ 72 , 73 ]. Bassi and colleagues [ 77 ] examined the relationships between childhood maltreatment, anxious and avoidance attachment attitudes, failures in mentalizing, and PSMU symptoms in a sample of emerging adults. Results show that failures in mentalizing were directly associated with increased levels of childhood maltreatment, anxious attachment attitudes, and PSMU symptoms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

Insecure Minds through the Looking Glass: The Mediating Role of Mentalization in the Relationships between Adult Attachment Styles and Problematic Social Media Use

Santoro

¹

,

Costanzo

²

,

Franceschini

³

et al. 2024

IJERPH

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Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.

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“…These findings extend to previous research showing that the positive relationships between preoccupied attachment style and PSMU, and between fearful attachment style and PSMU, might be explained by different factors, such as the tendency to excessively resort to fantasy [ 47 ], low self-esteem [ 101 ], the fear of missing out [ 49 ], and so on. In fact, anxious attachment attitudes, stemming from a negative view of the self, may foster failures in mentalizing, which in turn may increase the dysfunctional use of social media platforms in order to meet one’s own relational needs and to alleviate negative feelings [ 16 , 77 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The current study was carried out as a component of a broader research project, which obtained approval from the Ethics Committee of the Center for Research and Psychological Intervention (CERIP) of the University of Messina (protocol code: 119094). A previous, reduced version of the dataset was employed to perform a study on the relationship between child maltreatment, adult attachment, failures in mentalizing, and PSMU in N = 1614 emerging adults (807 females, 50%) aged between 18 and 30 years old (M = 23.84; SD = 3.21) [ 77 ]. The study was conducted in adherence to the Helsinki Declaration.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Accordingly, failures in mentalizing one’s own and others’ mental states might lead to the development and maintenance of PSMU as a coping strategy to deal with unprocessed feelings and to avoid the perceived unpredictability of face-to-face interactions [ 72 , 73 ]. Bassi and colleagues [ 77 ] examined the relationships between childhood maltreatment, anxious and avoidance attachment attitudes, failures in mentalizing, and PSMU symptoms in a sample of emerging adults. Results show that failures in mentalizing were directly associated with increased levels of childhood maltreatment, anxious attachment attitudes, and PSMU symptoms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Insecure Minds through the Looking Glass: The Mediating Role of Mentalization in the Relationships between Adult Attachment Styles and Problematic Social Media Use

Santoro

¹

,

Costanzo

²

,

Franceschini

³

et al. 2024

IJERPH

Self Cite

Get access via publisher Add to dashboard Cite

Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.

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The relationship between attachment and problematic internet use: A multilevel meta-analysis

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Li

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Han

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et al. 2024

Developmental Review

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Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.

A network analysis of the depression and anxiety comorbidity: a nationwide survey among Chinese adolescents during the normalization phase of COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control

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Zhang

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Jiang

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et al. 2025

BMC Psychiatry

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Exaggerated anticipatory anxiety is common in social anxiety disorder (SAD). Neuroimaging studies have revealed altered neural activity in response to social stimuli in SAD, but fewer studies have examined neural activity during anticipation of feared social stimuli in SAD. The current study examined the time course and magnitude of activity in threat processing brain regions during speech anticipation in socially anxious individuals and healthy controls (HC). Method Participants (SAD n = 58; HC n = 16) underwent functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during which they completed a 90s control anticipation task and 90s speech anticipation task.

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