How do attachments to people and places affect the relationship between the use of virtual places and mental health?

Abstract In recent years, technologies such as social media, virtual reality, and games have become integral parts of our daily lives. While research has examined their impact on mental health, there is limited focus on factors that moderate this relationship. One factor that may help clarify this relationship is the strength and quality of our relationships with people and places in the physical world, as these real-world connections may influence whether the effects of technology use are beneficial or detrimental to our well-being. We aimed to test the hypothesis that the relationship between the use of virtual places and mental health is moderated by interpersonal and place attachment. The study was conducted on a sample of 1250 Polish citizens and was representative in terms of gender, age, and place of residence. The participants completed an online survey in which they answered questions about their psychological distress (PHQ-ADS), interpersonal attachment (ECR-R), place attachment and use of virtual places. A lack of place attachment intensifies the association between the use of virtual places and symptoms of depression and anxiety. The results also demonstrate that interpersonal attachment anxiety moderates the relationship between the use of virtual places and symptoms of depression and anxiety. This relationship is stronger among people with high levels of attachment anxiety. These findings suggest that strengthening attachments to both people and physical spaces may help mitigate the risks associated with excessive virtual engagement and its influence on mental health.