The Interplay of Attachment Styles, Smartphone Addiction, and Romantic Relationship Satisfaction: An Exploratory Study among Albanian Adults

Abstract

Background: The proliferation of smartphones has fundamentally transformed romantic relationship dynamics, with problematic use increasingly linked to relationship dissatisfaction. Concurrently, attachment theory provides a robust framework for understanding individual differences in relationship functioning. However, the tripartite relationship between adult attachment dimensions, smartphone addiction, and romantic relationship satisfaction remains underexplored, particularly in non-Western European contexts. Objective: This study examined the relationships between attachment anxiety, attachment avoidance, smartphone addiction, and romantic relationship satisfaction among Albanian adults, testing whether smartphone addiction mediates the association between insecure attachment and relationship outcomes. Methods: A cross-sectional design was employed with 336 participants (mean age = 26.5 years, SD = 6.8) currently in romantic relationships. Data were collected via Google Forms from November 2025 to January 2026. Participants completed the Experiences in Close Relationships Scale–Short Form (ECR-S), Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version (SAS-SV), and Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS). Hierarchical multiple regression, mediation analysis, and one-way ANOVA were conducted. Results: Attachment avoidance significantly predicted relationship satisfaction (β = .315, p < .001), while attachment anxiety showed no direct association (β = .040, p = .409). Smartphone addiction emerged as a significant predictor of relationship satisfaction (β = .320, p < .001) and partially mediated the relationship between attachment avoidance and satisfaction. The final model explained 23.2% of variance in relationship satisfaction (F (3, 332) = 33.52, p < .001). Attachment style categories significantly differed on all variables (F (3, 332) = 4.05–129.49, p < .05), with fearful-avoidant individuals reporting the highest smartphone addiction and paradoxically elevated satisfaction. Conclusions: Findings suggest that smartphone addiction functions as a mechanism linking avoidant attachment to relationship outcomes, though cultural factors may moderate expected negative associations. The study extends attachment theory to digital relationship contexts in an understudied cultural setting. The counterintuitive positive associations were observed between avoidance, smartphone addiction, and satisfaction warrant cautious interpretation and highlight the need for culture-sensitive theoretical models.

Received: 20 February 2026  │  Accepted: 10 June 2026  │  Published: 23 July 2026