Smartphones as Surrogate Attachment: Examining Digital Dependency and Emotional Bonds Among Left-Behind Children in China.

IF 3.9 2区 心理学 Q1 PSYCHOLOGY, SOCIAL
Fang Yu, Kexin Wang, Menmen Wang
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Abstract

Smartphones are gradually becoming surrogate attachment figures for people. This is particularly true for Left-Behind Children (LBC) in China, who, due to long-term separation from their parents, lack reliable and stable emotional support and thus turn to smartphones. The excessive digital dependency has led to nomophobia, which emphasizes the anxiety and discomfort people experience when they are temporarily unable to use or need to be separated from their mobile devices. Drawing from the integrative hypothesis of attachment theory, the research investigates how congruence and incongruence in parent-child attachment patterns influence LBC's nomophobia. Data were collected from 476 LBC (aged 11-15 years) in Sichuan Province. Polynomial regression with response surface analysis revealed two key findings. First, supporting the additive model, LBC with congruent higher levels of attachment to both parents exhibited lower levels of nomophobia compared with those with lower attachment levels. Second, in cases of incongruent attachment, higher maternal attachment was more effective in predicting lower levels of nomophobia than paternal attachment, confirming the hierarchical model. These findings highlight the crucial role of secure parental attachments in mitigating digital dependency among LBC and emphasize the particular importance of maternal attachment. The study suggests that strengthening remote parent-child communication and providing comprehensive emotional support could help prevent nomophobia in LBC.

智能手机作为替代依恋:审视中国留守儿童的数字依赖和情感纽带。
智能手机正逐渐成为人们的替代依恋对象。对于中国的留守儿童(LBC)来说尤其如此,他们由于长期与父母分离,缺乏可靠和稳定的情感支持,因此转向智能手机。过度的数字依赖导致了“无手机恐惧症”,即人们在暂时无法使用或需要与移动设备分离时所经历的焦虑和不适。本研究从依恋理论的整合假说出发,探讨了亲子依恋模式的一致性和不一致性对LBC无恐惧症的影响。数据来自四川省476名LBC(11-15岁)。响应面分析的多项式回归揭示了两个关键发现。首先,支持加性模型,与父母双方的依恋水平一致较高的LBC相比,依恋水平较低的LBC表现出较低的无恐惧症水平。其次,在不一致依恋的情况下,较高的母亲依恋比父亲依恋更有效地预测较低水平的无恐惧症,证实了层次模型。这些发现强调了安全的父母依恋在减轻LBC之间的数字依赖中的关键作用,并强调了母亲依恋的特别重要性。本研究提示,加强亲子远程沟通,提供全面的情感支持,有助于预防LBC的无恐惧症。
本文章由计算机程序翻译,如有差异,请以英文原文为准。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
9.60
自引率
3.00%
发文量
123
期刊介绍: Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking is a leading peer-reviewed journal that is recognized for its authoritative research on the social, behavioral, and psychological impacts of contemporary social networking practices. The journal covers a wide range of platforms, including Twitter, Facebook, internet gaming, and e-commerce, and examines how these digital environments shape human interaction and societal norms. For over two decades, this journal has been a pioneering voice in the exploration of social networking and virtual reality, establishing itself as an indispensable resource for professionals and academics in the field. It is particularly celebrated for its swift dissemination of findings through rapid communication articles, alongside comprehensive, in-depth studies that delve into the multifaceted effects of interactive technologies on both individual behavior and broader societal trends. The journal's scope encompasses the full spectrum of impacts—highlighting not only the potential benefits but also the challenges that arise as a result of these technologies. By providing a platform for rigorous research and critical discussions, it fosters a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between technology and human behavior.
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