A moderated mediation model of avoidance attachment and depression among Chinese online daters: A social enhancement perspective.

Psychologically vulnerable groups, such as those with avoidance attachment, are at a heightened risk for well-being issues, including depression. In the realm of online dating, these individuals frequently encounter ghosting and romantic disillusionment, yet the mechanisms linking these experiences to depression remain unclear. Grounded in the social enhancement hypothesis, this study proposes a moderated mediation model to explore how avoidance attachment contributes to depression among Chinese online daters. An anonymous online survey was conducted using convenience sampling to reach adult dating app users in China through major social media platforms like WeChat, RED, Douban, and Douyin. Results from 475 participants indicate that individuals with higher levels of avoidance attachment report greater risks of depression. Ghosting others and romantic disillusionment serially mediate the relationship between avoidance attachment and depression, supporting the social enhancement effect. Additionally, destiny belief negatively moderates the relationship between avoidance attachment and ghosting others. This research enhances our understanding of the social enhancement hypothesis within online dating contexts by identifying specific mechanisms that contribute to increased depression in individuals with avoidance attachment. It also underscores the detrimental effects of these experiences on the well-being of psychologically vulnerable groups.