Problematic Internet Usage and Self-Esteem in Chinese Undergraduate Students: The Mediation Effects of Individual Affect and Relationship Satisfaction.

Guang Zeng,Lijin Zhang,Zhi-Quan Jiang,Qian Huang,Zhen-Ting Chen,Yi-Man Liu,Fang-Fang Zhu,Jingwen Li,Ping Yu,Si-Ding Luo,Zi-Ke Xiong,Sai-Fu Fung

doi:10.3390/ijerph18136949

Abstract

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine the mediating effects of individual affect and relationship satisfaction on the relationship between self-esteem and Problematic Internet Use (PIU). Affect was measured using the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), relationship satisfaction was assessed using a positive and negative semantic dimension scale, self-esteem was measured using the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and PIU was measured using the Problematic Internet Use scale with a sample of 507 Chinese university students (Mage = 20.41 years, SD = 2.49). The relationships between the variables were tested using structural equation modelling with a multiple mediation model. The results revealed that negative affect and the negative semantic dimensions of relationship satisfaction mediated the relationship between self-esteem and PIU. The implications of the results and the study’s theoretical contributions are discussed.

Highlights

The Internet was first introduced to the public as a global computer network in the early 1990s [1,2,3]
We developed a multiple mediation model [121] of the Problematic Internet Use (PIU) questionnaire to simultaneously test the indirect effects of the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) and PN-SMD measures while controlling for gender
We investigated the relationships among self-esteem, individual affect, relationship satisfaction, and PIU

Summary

Introduction

The Internet was first introduced to the public as a global computer network in the early 1990s [1,2,3]. Despite its importance and ease of use, the Internet has the potential to cause harm, as widely acknowledged in academia [7,8,9,10,11,12,13]. Its many advantages may be cancelled out by potential addictive behaviour or problematic use [14]. Problematic Internet Use (PIU) is defined as excessive online activity likely to be associated with significant functional impairment, including compulsive online shopping, gambling, cybersex, and excessive online streaming and social media use that are addictive, impulsive or compulsive elements [15].

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Conclusion