The mediating role of social support in the relationship between traumatic childhood experiences and Instagram addiction in college students

The present study was conducted in order to investigate the relationship between traumatic childhood experiences and Instagram addiction with the mediating role of perceived social support in college students. This was a descriptive, correlational study that was conducted in the statistical population of students of Islamic Azad University, Bushehr Branch, in 2023. 270 people participated in this research in a convenience sampling method using an online survey. In order to collect data from the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire (CTQ) (Bernstein et al., 2003) to the Instagram Addiction Scale (IAS) (Kircaburun & Griffiths, 2018) and the Multidimensional Perceived Social Support Scale (MSPSS) (Zimet et al., 1988) was used. Data analysis was done using structural equation modeling and bootstrap tests. The proposed model had a good fit and 53% of changes in Instagram addiction were influenced by traumatic childhood experiences and Perceived social support. Direct effects of traumatic childhood experiences on social support, traumatic childhood experiences on Instagram addiction, and social support on Instagram addiction It was significant; Also, the mediating role of social support in the relationship between traumatic childhood experiences and Instagram addiction was significant (P<0.05). People who experience traumatic experiences in childhood may seek refuge in cyberspace to meet their communication needs due to not receiving enough social support.