Internet addiction and maladaptive schemas: The potential role of disconnection/rejection and impaired autonomy/performance.

Shahla Ostovar,Reyhaneh Bagheri,Intan Hashimah Mohd Hashima,Mark D Griffiths

doi:10.1002/cpp.2581

Shahla Ostovar, Reyhaneh Bagheri + Show 2 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1002/cpp.2581

Copy DOI

Abstract

Problematic internet use (PIU) has become public health concern, particularly among adolescents and emerging adults. There is growing interest concerning the potential impacts of early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) on PIU and its most severe manifestation internet addiction (IA). However, a deeper understanding of these relationships is needed regarding of effects of schemas on IA. The purpose of the present study was to explore the role of EMSs among adults. The sample comprised 714 Iranian participants who completed a self-report survey comprising sociodemographic variables, the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), and the Young Schema Questionnaire-Short Form (YSQ-SF). The data were analysed using partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM). Findings indicated that there was a positive and significant relationship between EMS domains and IA. The results confirmed that disconnection/rejection schema domains and impaired autonomy/performance schema domains were significantly related with IA. The results of the analysis of convergent validity and discriminant validity were acceptable among the nine reflective constructs. Findings of the present study indicated that existence of underlying EMSs may be a vulnerability factor for developing IA and adds to the growing body of cyberpsychology literature that has examined the relationships between the EMSs and IA.

Highlights

Introduction and objectivesProblematic internet use (PIU) has become public health concern, among adolescents and emerging adults
The present study offers further empirical evidence that there is a relationship between early maladaptive schemas and internet addiction
The findings suggest that specific schemas, namely, abandonment, mistrust/abuse, emotional deprivation, social isolation/alienation, defective/shame, dependence/incompetence, vulnerability to harm and illness, enmeshment/undeveloped self, and failure with internet addiction

Summary

Introduction

Introduction and objectivesProblematic internet use (PIU) has become public health concern, among adolescents and emerging adults. There is growing interest concerning the potential impacts of early maladaptive schemas (EMSs) on PIU and its most severe manifestation internet addiction (IA). Conclusion: Findings of the present study indicated that existence of underlying EMSs may be a vulnerability factor for developing IA and adds to the growing body of cyberpsychology literature that has examined the relationships between the EMSs and IA. Increased access and persistent internet use increase the risk of developing online addictive behaviour (Lee et al, 2019) that can negatively impact on psychological development (Chen et al, 2020), physical health, education (e.g., poor grades), and relationships (e.g., interpersonal difficulties), as well as association with other behaviours (e.g., comorbidity with substance addictions; Chi et al, 2020; Kojima et al, 2019)

Objectives

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion