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L'insécurité d'attachement comme facteur de vulnérabilité à l'usage excessif d'Internet

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Abstract

L’expansion des moyens de connexion pose la question du rapport entre l’individu et le monde numérique. Une des principales motivations à utiliser Internet serait la communication sociale. Parmi le peu de recherches portant sur l’usage d’Internet et l’attachement, la plupart suggère une prédisposition des personnes insécures à l’usage excessif d’Internet. A notre connaissance, une seule étude examine les styles d’attachement par la méthode de l’entretien. Cette méthode permet pourtant une évaluation plus complète de l’attachement et permet notamment de mesurer la part inconsciente des représentations d’attachement de la personne. En utilisant conjointement la méthode de l’entretien et de l’auto-questionnaire, la présente recherche vise une meilleure compréhension du lien entre l’attachement et l’usage problématique ou non d’Internet. Les résultats pourront apporter un nouvel éclairage sur l’usage problématique d’Internet, notamment sur les raisons motivant les individus à se tourner vers les mondes virtuels. Les participants (n=256), adultes tout-venants, ont rempli quatre auto-questionnaires: Relationship Scale Questionnaire, Social Motives for Internet Use, Internet Motives Questionnaire (IMQ), Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Une partie des participants a également passé un entretien (n=56) : Attachment Multiple Model Interview. Les résultats préliminaires indiquent un lien entre anxiété d’attachement et usage problématique d’Internet. L’attachement anxieux et le score à l’IAT sont liés aux échelles de l’IMQ mesurant l’usage d’Internet dans un but de recherche de contact et d’aide à la communication. Internet pourrait procurer aux personnes ayant un style d’attachement anxieux un environnement plus rassurant pour interagir avec autrui. La facilité d’accès à Internet et l’anonymat pourraient les aider à trouver proximité et soutien. Ces personnes rapportent un sentiment d’intimité élevé lors des interactions sur Internet. De plus, l’usage des réseaux sociaux sur Internet est lié à une réduction du sentiment de solitude. Interagir sur Internet pourrait réduire l’angoisse d’abandon liée à l’anxiété d’attachement. La possibilité d’être constamment en lien avec autrui pourrait inciter ces personnes à rester dans cet environnement virtuel. Une prise en charge thérapeutique visant une réduction de l’insécurité d'attachement pourrait permettre de réduire le recours à Internet.
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