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. 2023 Jan 29;13(2):247.
doi: 10.3390/jpm13020247.

Love Addiction, Adult Attachment Patterns and Self-Esteem: Testing for Mediation Using Path Analysis

Alessio Gori  1   2 , Sara Russo  1 , Eleonora Topino  3
Affiliations

Love Addiction, Adult Attachment Patterns and Self-Esteem: Testing for Mediation Using Path Analysis

Alessio Gori et al. J Pers Med. .

Abstract

Love addiction is a dysfunctional relational modality that takes on the addiction characteristics and which, for the individuals who suffer from it, can have a negative and pervasive impact on various areas of functioning. The objective of this research was the analysis the factors that can be associated with love addiction, particularly focusing on adult attachment patterns and self-esteem. A sample group of 300 individuals who declared themselves to have a romantic relationship was involved in this research (Mage = 37.83 years, SD = 12.937). They completed an online survey including the Love Addiction Inventory-Short form, Relationship Questionnaire, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Results showed significant and positive associations between preoccupied and fearful adult attachment and love addiction. Furthermore, these relationships were totally mediated by self-esteem. Gender and age were controlled as potential covariates and showed significant effects in influencing the levels of self-esteem and love addiction. Such findings may provide useful information for orienting future research and supporting an effective clinical practice.

Keywords: adult attachment; anxious attachment; love addiction; mediation; path analysis; self-concept; self-esteem.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
The mediation of self-esteem in the relationship between preoccupied and fearful adult attachment and love addiction, controlling for the effects of gender and age—a path analysis model. Note—dashed lines indicate the non-significant direct effects.
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