Anxious-Ambivalent Attachment and Cybervictimization Among Young Adults: The Mediating Role of Problematic Internet Use

Studies have shown anxious-ambivalent attachment commonly characterizes cyberbullying victims. Similarly, studies have shown an association between anxious-ambivalent attachment and problematic internet use (PIU). Previous studies have explained this asso­ciation by noting the high interpersonal needs of individuals with anxious-ambivalent attachment who are looking for social contact. Studies have demonstrated the destructive consequences of PIU, including cybervictimization. However, the possibility that PIU mediates the association between anxious-ambivalent attachment and cybervictimization has not been examined yet. Accordingly, this study aimed to: (1) examine the association between anxious-ambivalent attachment and PIU; (2) assess the relationship between PIU and cybervictimization; and (3) explore PIU's mediating effect between anxious-ambivalent attachment and cybervictimization. The sample comprised 170 Israeli young adults (63 men, 107 women), aged 19–34 (M = 26.26, SD = 3.02). Data were collected from October to December during the first semester of the academic year. Results showed that anxious-ambivalent attachment was significantly correlated with both PIU and cybervictimization, and PIU was correlated with cybervictimization. In addition, PIU fully mediated the relationship between anxious-ambivalent attachment and cybervictimization. These findings suggest that individuals with higher anxious-ambivalent attachment may engage in greater PIU, increasing their risk of cybervictimization. Integrating attachment- and PIU-focused interventions into prevention programs may reduce cybervictimization risk.