The relationship between attachment styles and relationship addiction among young adults (Aged 18-45): The mediating role of self-compassion

The main aim of this research is to examine the mediating role of self-compassion in the relationship between attachment styles of young adult individuals and relationship dependency. The study group consists of a total of 605 participants, 400 of whom are female and 205 are male, aged between 18-45 years old. In order to collect data for the research, informed consent form, demographic information form, Relationship Scales Questionnaire (RSQ), Spann-Fischer Relationship Dependency Scale (SFRDS), and Self-Compassion Scale (SCS) were used. The data obtained in the study were analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling using SPSS 25.0 and AMOS 24 program and evaluated according to bootstrap results. As a result of the research, a partially mitigating mediating effect of selfcompassion on the relationship between fearful attachment and relationship dependency was found. Self-compassion was found to have a partially mitigating effect on the negative relationship between secure attachment and relationship dependency. Similarly, a partially mitigating effect of self-compassion was found on the relationship between preoccupied attachment style and relationship dependency. These findings highlight the importance of attachment styles and self-compassion in reducing relationship dependency among young adult individuals, and recommendations are made based on the literature.