Social media use among Tunisian adolescents: The role of attachment to parents and peers

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Published Apr 12, 2026
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v104i03.6301
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Vol. 104 No. 03 (2026): Tunis Med Mar 2026

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Asma Ben Ltaifa
Department of Child Psychiatry, Military Hospital, Tunis, Laboratory LR22SP01 Santé Mère-enfant, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia. Tunisia
Fatma Charfi
Department of Child Psychiatry, Mongi Slim Hospital, La Marsa,Laboratory LR22SP01 Santé Mère-enfant, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Radhouane Fakhfakh
Department of epidemiology, Abderrahmen Mami Hospital, Ariana, Laboratory LR22SP01 Santé Mère-enfant, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Meriem Hamza
Department of Child Psychiatry, Mongi Slim Hospital, La Marsa,Laboratory LR22SP01 Santé Mère-enfant, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia
Ahlem Belhadj
Department of Child Psychiatry, Mongi Slim Hospital, La Marsa,Laboratory LR22SP01 Santé Mère-enfant, Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunisia

Abstract

Introduction: The use of social networks has grown exponentially and social media addiction has become a global concern. According to the literature, attachment disorders are described as predictors of this condition. The main objective of this study was to assess the relationship between social network use and the quality of attachment among college students in Tunisia.
Methods : It was a cross-sectional study conducted among adolescents aged between 11 and 18, recruited from six colleges in Tunisia. Participants
were selected by convenience sampling based on to the type of college (private or public) and socio-economic level. We used three instruments : a
clinical file, the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS) and the Inventory of Parent and Peer Attachment (IPPA-R).
Results: A total of 1008 adolescents were recruited. The average age of the participants was 13.4 years with a female-to-male ratio of 1.05. The
prevalence of social media addiction was 7.5% according to the conservative approach and increased to 41.2% using the liberal approach. A
negative and statistically significant correlation was demonstrated between the global BSMAS scores and IPPA scores corresponding to the parents (p<0.0001).
Conclusion: Among Tunisian adolescents, lower quality of attachment was associated with increased levels of addiction to social networks. The
implementation of preventive strategies is essential in order to mitigate this problematic use.

Keywords:

Attachment, adolescents, problematic use, addiction, social networks, social media

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