Relation between Attachment Anxiety and Relationship Addiction in Emerging Adults: Mediating Effects of Self-Concept Clarity and Intolerance of Uncertainty (성인진입기의 애착불안과 관계중독의 관계: 자기개념명확성과 불확실성에 대한 인내력 부족의 매개효과)

Minhee Bang (방민희); Soeun Shim (심소은); Heejae Hwang (황희재); Kyuwon Ham (함규원); Seungyeon Lee (이승연)

doi:10.35574/KJDP.2025.12.38.4.27

Relation between Attachment Anxiety and Relationship Addiction in Emerging Adults: Mediating Effects of Self-Concept Clarity and Intolerance of Uncertainty

THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY
2025, 38(4), pp.27~48
DOI : 10.35574/KJDP.2025.12.38.4.27
Publisher : The Korean Society For Developmental Psychology
Research Area : Social Science > Psychological Science
Received : January 15, 2025
Accepted : November 28, 2025
Published : December 15, 2025

Minhee Bang ¹, Soeun Shim ¹, Heejae Hwang ¹, Kyuwon Ham ¹, Seungyeon Lee ¹

¹이화여자대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

The current study examined the mediating roles of self-concept clarity and intolerance of uncertainty in the relationship between attachment anxiety and relationship addiction among 400 emerging adults (aged 19-25). Utilizing structural equation modeling on online-survey data, the results indicated that attachment anxiety negatively predicted self-concept clarity and positively predicted intolerance of uncertainty. Both decreased self-concept clarity and increased intolerance of uncertainty led to an increase in relationship addiction. The findings confirm a double mediation model where attachment anxiety contributes to a higher level of relationship addiction by weakening self-concept clarity and lowering tolerance for uncertain situations. These results offer crucial implications for developing interventions aimed at emerging adults struggling with excessive relational preoccupation.

KEYWORDS

Attachment Anxiety, Relationship Addiction, Self-Concept Clarity, Intolerance of Uncertainty

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2025 are currently being built.

[journal] 고아라 / 2024 / The Effects of Traumatized Self-System on Relationship Addiction in College Students: The Sequential Mediating Effects of Interpersonal Trauma Experience and Distress Tolerance / 교육치료연구 16(1) : 103~118

[journal] 김가연 / 2024 / The Relationship between Intolerance of Uncertainty and Relationship Addiction: The Mediating Effect of Experiential Avoidance / 한국심리학회지: 문화 및 사회문제 30(2) : 221~238

[journal] 김다혜 / 2021 / The Relationship between Self-Concept Clarity and Failure Tolerance among Unemployed Young Adults: The Mediation Effects of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Social Comparison Orientation / 인간발달연구 28(3) : 59~86

[thesis] 김대익 / 1998 / 한국인의 자아개념 명료성에 대한연구: 성격, 자의식, 행동의 관계를 중심으로 / 석사 / 중앙대학교

[journal] 김더미 / 2021 / The Relationships between Socially Prescribed Perfectionism and Job-seeking Anxiety: Exploring the Mediating Effects of Self-concept Clarity and Intolerance of Uncertainty in University Students / 미래교육학연구 34(2) : 133~154

[journal] 김미림 / 2019 / Delphi Survey on Relationship Addiction Concept / 열린교육연구 27(3) : 199~218

[thesis] 김미림 / 2020 / 대학생용 관계중독 척도 개발 및 타당화 / 석사 / 한국교원대학교

[thesis] 김성현 / 2004 / 친밀 관계 경험 검사 개정판 타당화연구: 확증적 요인분석과 문항 반응 이론을 중심으로 / 석사 / 서울대학교

[thesis] 김순희 / 2010 / 부정적 및 긍정적 평가에 대한 두려움, 불확실성에 대한 인내력 부족과 사회불안의관계 / 석사 / 이화여자대학교

[journal] 김유림 / 2022 / Attachment and SNS Addiction Proneness in University Students: The Mediation Effect of Excessive Reassurance Seeking / 한국심리학회지: 건강 17(2) : 195~210

[journal] 김의현 / 2023 / Effect of Attachment Anxiety on Relationship Addiction: Mediated Effect of Rejection Sensitivity and Emotion Dysregulation / 재활심리연구 30(1) : 133~150

[journal] 문화림 / 2022 / The Relationship Between Self-Concept Clarity and SNS Addiction Proneness for University Students: Dual Mediating Effects of Social Comparison Orientation and State-Fear of Missing Out / 인문사회 21 13(6) : 3933~3948

[journal] 박누리 / 2021 / Self-concept Clarity and Social Anxiety in (under)Graduate Students: The Mediating Role of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Social Comparison Orientation / 학습자중심교과교육연구 21(6) : 83~97

[journal] 박소정 / 2024 / The Difference between Relationship Addiction Trait Depending on Attachment, Abandonment Schema, and Self-concept clarity: Application of Latent Profile Analysis / 사회과연구논총 40(1) : 159~181

[journal] 박여심 / 2022 / Adult Attachment and Employment-Preparation Behavior of College Students: Sequential Mediating Effects of Self-Soothing Ability, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Job-Seeking Anxiety / 학습자중심교과교육연구 22(17) : 721~741

[journal] 서규진 / 2022 / The Influence of Self-concept Clarity on Relationship Addiction : The Mediating Effect of Self object Needs / 한국심리치료학회지 14(2) : 41~56

[journal] 송연주 / 2019 / The Effect of Childhood Emotional Trauma on Relationship Addiction Tendency: Mediating Role of Anxious Attachment and Internalized Shame in Adults / 학습자중심교과교육연구 19(9) : 939~959

[journal] 송연주 / 2021 / The Mediating Effect of Emotion Regulation and Relationship Addiction in the Relationship between Neuroticism and Depression of College Students / 청소년학연구 28(2) : 1~29

[journal] 오진주 / 2024 / The Moderating Effect of Fear of Compassion, Self-Compassion in the Relationship between Adult Attachment and Relationship Addiction Tendency / 학습자중심교과교육연구 24(22) : 1161~1180

[thesis] 이의선 / 2005 / 관계중독의 기독교 상담적 치료방안에 관한 연구 / 석사 / 서울신학대학교

[journal] 이정희 / 1999 / 어머니 특성, 아동특성, 타인양육특성과 애착 안정성간의 관계 연구-취업모 가정을 대상으로 / 한국영유아보육학 17 : 293~309

[journal] 이지현 / 2016 / Item Parceling: Understanding and Applying the Principles / 한국심리학회지: 일반 35(2) : 327~353

[journal] 이한정 / 2020 / A Study on Antecedent Variables of Relationship Addiction: Focusing on Isolation, Distress Tolerance, and Self-Concept Clarity / 정서․행동장애 36(2) : 315~337

[journal] 장정연 / 2022 / Mediating Effects of Emotional Clarity and Self-concept Clarity in the Relationship Between Insecure Adult Attachment and SNS Addiction Proneness among Chinese University Students / 교욱문화연구 28(2) : 217~242

[journal] 전현옥 / 2021 / The Influence of Perceived Rejective Parenting Attitudes on the Relationship Addiction of College Students: Mediating Effect of Loneliness Moderated by Self-Compassion / 한국가족관계학회지 26(2) : 79~103

[journal] 조영주 / 2023 / The Mediating Effects of Relationship Addiction on the Relationship between Irrational Relationship Beliefs and Dating Violence: Focusing on Gender Differences / 한국심리학회지: 상담 및 심리치료 35(2) : 587~608

[journal] 조화진 / 2011 / Adult Attachment and Psychological Distress: Mediating Roles of Maladaptive Perfectionism and Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction / 한국심리학회지: 상담 및 심리치료 23(2) : 471~490

[journal] 차지연 / 2018 / The Relationship between Adult Attachment and Social Anxiety: The Mediating Effect of Self-compassion / 한국심리학회지: 임상심리 연구와 실제 4(3) : 377~394

[thesis] 한나 / 2019 / 한국과 캐나다 대학생의 부모양육과다문화 성격에 관한 비교문화연구: 불확실성 인내력 부족, 가치의 매개적 역할 / 석사 / 이화여자대학교

[journal] Adeoye, O. E. / 2020 / Self-concept clarity, learned helplessness and fatigue severity as predictors of psychoactive drug use and abuse among undergraduates / International Journal of Sciences: Basic and Applied Research 53(2) : 198~210

[journal] Allen A. B. / 2010 / Self-Compassion, stress, and coping / Social and Personality Psychology compass 4(2) : 107~118

[journal] Anderson, J. C. / 1988 / Structural equation modeling in practice: A review and recommended two-step approach / Psychological Bulletin 103(3) : 411~423 / https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-2909.103.3.411

[journal] Arnett, J. J. / 2000 / Emerging adulthood: A theory of development from the late teens through the twenties / American Psychologist 55(5) : 469~

[book] Ascher, M. S. / 2015 / The behavioral addictions / American Psychiatric Pub

[journal] Bartholomew K / 1991 / Attachment styles among young adults: A test of a four-category model / Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 61(2) : 226~244 / https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.61.2.226

[journal] Bechtoldt M. N. / 2010 / Self-concept clarity and the management of social conflict / Journal of Personality 78(2) : 539~574

[book] Bowlby, J. / 1969 / Attachment and loss / Basic Books

[journal] Bottesi, G. / 2020 / What is the internal sturcture of intolenrance of uncertainty? A network analysis approach / Journal of Anxiety Disorders 75 : 102293~

[book] Brennan, K. A. / 1998 / Attachment theory and close relationships / Guilford Press : 46~76

[journal] Buhr K. / 2009 / The role of fear of anxiety and intolerance of uncertainty in worry: An experimental manipulation / Behaviour Research and Therapy 47(3) : 215~223

[journal] Campbell J. D. / 1990 / Self-esteem and clarity of the self-concept / Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 59(3) : 538~549 / https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.59.3.538

[journal] Campbell J D / 1996 / Self-concept clarity: Measurement, personality correlates, and cultural boundaries / Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 70(1) : 141~156 / https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.70.1.141

[journal] Carleton, R. N. / 2007 / Fearing the unknown: A short version of the Intolerance of Uncertainty Scale / Journal of Anxiety Disorders 21(1) : 105~117 / https://doi.org/10.1016/j.janxdis.2006.03.014

[book] Cicero, D. C. / 2018 / Self-concept clarity / Springer : 219~242

[journal] Coutts J. J. / 2023 / I can see (myself) clearly now: Exploring the mediating role of self-concept clarity in the association between self-compassion and indicators of well-being / PLoS ONE 18(6) : e0286992~

[journal] Curran P. J. / 1996 / The robustness of test statistics to nonnormality and specification error in confirmatory factor analysis / Psychological Methods 1(1) : 16~29 / https://doi.org/10.1037/1082-989X.1.1.16

[journal] Doinita, N, B. / 2015 / Attachment and parenting styles / Proceddia-Social and Behavioral Sciences 203 : 199~204 / https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2015.08.282

[book] Dugas, M. J. / 2004 / Generalized anxiety disorder: Advances in research and practice / Guilford Press : 143~163

[book] Eagle, M. / 2000 / Attachment theory: Social, developmental, and clinical perspectives / Analytic Press, Inc : 123~150

[journal] Earp B. D. / 2017 / Addicted to love: What is love addiction and when should it be treated? / Philosophy, Psychiatry, & Psychology 24(1) : 77~92 / https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/ppp.2017.0011

[journal] Eker H. / 2022 / The relationship between game addiction, emotional autonomyand emotion regulation in adolescents: A multiple mediation model / International Journal of Technology in Education and Science (IJTES) 6(4) : 569~584 / https://doi.org/10.46328/ijtes.390

[journal] Flores, P. J. / 2001 / Addiction as an attachment disorder: Inplications for group therapy / International Journal of Group Psychotherapy 51(1) : 63~81

[journal] Fraley, R. C. / 2000 / Adult romantic attachment: Theoretical developments, emerging controversies, and unanswered questions / Review of General Psychology 4(2) : 132~154

[journal] Fraley, R. C. / 2000 / An item response theory analysis of self-report measures of adult attachment / Journal of Personality and Social Psychology 78(2) : 350~365 / https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.78.2.350

[journal] Fredland, N. M. / 2005 / The meaning of dating violence in the lives of middle school adolscents: A report of a focus group study / Journal of School Violence 4(2) : 95~114

[journal] Froh, J. J. / 2007 / Interpersonal relationships and irrationality as predictors of life satisfaction / The Journal of Positive Psychology 2(1) : 29~39

[journal] Gori A / 2023 / Love addiction, adult attachment patterns and self-esteem: Testing for mediation using path analysis / Journal of Personalized Medicine 13(2) : 247~

[journal] Hanley A. W. / 2017 / Clarity of mind: Structural equation modeling of associations between dispositional mindfulness, self-concept clarity and psychological well-being / Personality and Individual Differences 106 : 334~339

[journal] Hasin D. / 1999 / At-risk drinkers in the household and short-term course of alcohol dependence / Journal of Studies on Alcohol 60(6) : 769~775

[book] Hertel, A. W. / 2018 / Self-concept clarity: Perspectives on assessment, research, and applications / Springer International Publishing : 43~66

[journal] Hertel A. W. / 2024 / The relationahip of self-concept clarity with perceived stress, general anxiety, and depression among young adults / Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology 43(5) : 473~491

[journal] Innamorati M. / 2017 / Emotion regulation and mentalization in people at risk for food addiction / Behavioral Medicine 43(1) : 21~30 / https://doi.org/10.1080/08964289.2015.1036831

[journal] Jiang X. / 2025 / The effects of mindfulness-based intervention on social anxiety, mindfulness, intolerance of uncertainty and emotion dysregulation - A serial multiple mediating structural equation model / Current Psychology 44(4) : 2634~2647

[journal] Kaçar-Başaran S / 2025 / From self-compassion to obsessivecompulsive symptoms: The mediator role of intolerance of uncertainty / Current Psychology 44(4) : 2375~2384

[book] Kohut, H. / 1971 / The analysis of the self: A systematic approach to the psychoanalytic treatment of narcissistic personality disorders / University of Chicago Press

[journal] Kraemer K. M. / 2015 / The role of intolerance of uncertainty in terms of alcohol use motives among college students / Addictive Behaviors 42 : 162~166

[journal] Kusec A / 2016 / Intolerance of uncertainty, causal uncertainty, causal importance, self-concept clarity and their relations to generalized anxiety disorder / Cognitive Behaviour Therapy 45(4) : 307~323

[journal] Law K. S. / 2024 / Different functions of the essential and nurturing elements of mindfulness training programs: the role of self-concept clarity / Asia Pacific Journal of Management : 1~26

[journal] Lee-Flynn, S. C. / 2011 / Daily cognitive appraisals, daily affect, and long-term depressive symptom: The role of self-esteem and self-concept clarity in the stress process / Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 37(2) : 255~268

[journal] Lewandowski G. W. / 2009 / The Role of Self-concept Clarity in Relationship Quality / Self and Identity 9(4) : 416~433 / https://doi.org/10.1080/15298860903332191

[journal] Lewis, M. / 1998 / Altering fate: Why the past does not predict the future / Psychological Inquiry 9(2) : 105~108

[journal] Maglia, M. G. / 2023 / Love addiction-Current diagnostic and therapeutic paradigms in clinical psychology / Health Psychology Research 11 : 70218~

[book] Martin G. / 1990 / When good things become addictions / Victor Books

[journal] Mason, T. B. / 2022 / A systematic review of maladaptive interpersonal behaviors and eating disorder psychopathology / Eating Behaviors 45 : 101601~

[journal] Mikulincer M. / 1995 / Appraisal and coping with a real-life stressful situation: The contribution of attachment styles / Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin 21 : 408~416

[book] Mikulincer M. / 2007 / Attachment in adulthood: Structure, dynamics, and change / Guilford Press

[book] Mikulincer M. / 2008 / Handbook of attachment: Theory, research and clinical implications / Guilford Press : 503~531

[book] Mikulincer M. / 2010 / Attachment in adulthood: Structure, dynamics, and change / Guildford Press

[journal] Mikulincer M. / 2019 / Attachment orientations and emotion regulation / Current Opinion in Psychology 25 : 6~10

[journal] Mikulincer M / 2003 / Attachment theory and affect regulation: The dynamics, development, and cognitive consequences of attachment-related strategies / Motivation and Emotion 27 : 77~102 / https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1024515519160

[journal] Miyagawa Y. / 2023 / Self-compassion promotes self-concept clarity and self-change in response to negative events / Personality 92(5) : 1265~1282

[book] Moustafa, A. / 2020 / Cognitive, clinical, and neural aspects of drug addiction / Academic Press

[journal] Muraven M. / 2000 / Self-regulation and depletion of limited resources: Does self-control resemble a muscle? / Psychological Bulletin 126(2) : 247~

[journal] Neff, K. D. / 2003 / Self-compassion: an alternative conceptualization of a healthy attitude toward oneself / Self Identity 2 : 85~102

[journal] Neff, K. D. / 2023 / Self-Compassion: Theory, method, research, and intervention / Annual Review of Psychology 74 : 193~218

[journal] Papenfuss I / 2022 / Aversive response to uncertainty as a mediator for the effect of a mindfulness intervention on symptoms of anxiety / International Journal of Psychophysiology 179 : 30~42

[journal] Park C. L. / 2002 / Drinking to cope among college students: Prevalence, problems and coping processes / Journal of Studies on Alcohol 63(4) : 486~497

[book] Peabody, S. / 2010 / 사랑중독 / 북북서

[journal] Preacher, K. J. / 2004 / SPSS and SAS procedures for estimating indirect effects in simple mediation models / Behavior Research Methods, Instruments, & Computers 36 : 717~731 / https://doi.org/10.3758/BF03206553

[journal] Redcay A. / 2018 / Criteria for love and relationship addiction: Distinguishing love addiction from other substance and behavioral addictions / Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity 25(1) : 80~95 / https://doi.org/10.1080/10720162.2017.1403984

[journal] Reynaud M. / 2010 / Is love passion an addictive disorder? / The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse 36(5) : 261~267

[book] Rosenberg, K. P. / 2014 / Behavioral addictions: Criteria, evidence, and treatment / Academic Press

[journal] Sanchez A. L. / 2016 / Evaluating the intergenerational link between maternal and child intolerance of uncertainty: A preliminary cross-sectional examination / Cognitive Therapy and Research 40(4) : 532~539

[journal] Stepp S. D. / 2008 / The role of attachment styles ans interpersonal problems in suicide-related behaviors / Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior 38(5) : 592~607

[journal] Sussman S. / 2010 / Love addiction: definition, etiology, treatment / Sexual Addiction & Compulsivity 17(1) : 31~45 / https://doi.org/10.1080/10720161003604095

[journal] Tironi M. / 2021 / Physiogical factors linking insecure attachment to psychopathology: A systemetic review / Brain Science 11(11) : 1477~

[journal] Vago, D. R. / 2012 / Self-awareness, self-regulation, and self-transcendence (S-ART): a framework for understanding the neurobiological mechanisms of mindfulness / Frontiers in Human Neuroscience 6 : 296~

[journal] Xie Y / 2024 / Cumulative childhood trauma and mobile phone addiction among chinese college students: Role of self-esteem and self-concept clarity as serial mediators / Current Psychology 43(6) : 5355~5363

[journal] Yang, F. / 2024 / A secure mind is a clear mind: The relationship between attachment security, mindfulness, and self-concept clarity / Current Psychology 43(12) : 11276~11287

[journal] Wang Y. / 2022 / Self-concept clarity and Internet addiction disorder among junior high school students: A moderate mediation model / Frontiers in Psychiatry 13 : 989128~

[journal] Wearden A / 2007 / Adult attachment, parenting experiences, and core beliefs about self and others / Personality and Individual Differences 44(5) : 1246~1257

[journal] Zlotnick, C. / 2000 / The relationship between quality of interpersonal relationships and major depressive disorder: Findings from the National Comorbidity Survey / Journal of Affective Disorders 59(3) : 205~215

KJCKorea
Journal Central

THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2025 KCI Impact Factor : 1.27

Relation between Attachment Anxiety and Relationship Addiction in Emerging Adults: Mediating Effects of Self-Concept Clarity and Intolerance of Uncertainty

ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS

Citation status

* References for papers published after 2025 are currently being built.

THE KOREAN JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY 2025 KCI Impact Factor : 1.27

Relation between Attachment Anxiety and Relationship Addiction in Emerging Adults: Mediating Effects of Self-Concept Clarity and Intolerance of Uncertainty

ABSTRACT

KEYWORDS

Statistics

Tools

Issue List

Citation status

KCI Citation Counts (0)

REFERENCES (102) * References for papers published after 2025 are currently being built.

Search PDF

Citation

* References for papers published after 2025 are currently being built.