The Moderating Effect of Fear of Compassion, Self-Compassion in the Relationship between Adult Attachment and Relationship Addiction Tendency

Objectives This study attempted to verify the moderating effect by confirming whether mercy anxiety(fear of compassion) and self-compassion as psychological mechanisms in the relationship between insecure adult attachment and relationship addiction can be alleviated by acting as a moderating effect. Methods To this end, this study conducted an online survey of 355 unmarried men and women in their 20s and 40s nationwide. This study uses 4 tools, such as ECR-R (Experiences in Close Relationships-Revised), the Korean version of the Fear of Compassion Scales, Korean version of Self-Compassion Scale, and the RAQ-30 (Relationship Addiction Questionnaire-30) to analyze these research questions. The research methodology is based on statistical analysis using the Stata 16 statistical program, which includes multiple regression analysis and the results are as follows. Results First, this study confirmed that there are significant correlations among insecure adult attachment (attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance), fear of compassion, self-compassion, and relationship addiction. Second, this study identifies whether the influence of insecure adult attachment on relationship addiction depends on fear of compassion, verifying that its moderating effect is statistically significant. It can be interpreted that the lower the level of fear of compassion, the less the influence of insecure adult attachment on relationship addiction can be alleviated. Third, this study verifies the moderating effect of self-compassion in the relationship between insecure adult attachment and relationship addiction and showed that self-sufficiency was not significant as a moderating variable. Conclusions When examining the influence of each factor on relationship addiction symptoms in this study, it should be taken into account that there may be differences between attachment anxiety and attachment avoidance dimensions within the unstable attachment type. Therefore, considering that clients may experience different difficulties in relationships that depend on each type of unstable adult attachment, counselors can establish counseling goals and counseling strategies. In addition, by examining the moderating effect of the relationship between insecure adult attachment and relationship addiction through fear of compassion and self-compassion, this study is significant in that it reveals psychological mechanisms that serve as buffer materials to alleviate relational addiction, and based on this, provides basic data for more practical application and utilization during consultation.