Internet Addiction among Young Adult University Students: The Complex Interplay between Family Functioning, Impulsivity, Depression, and Anxiety

Abstract

International research has underlined that both interpersonal, self-regulation, and comorbid variables can lead to a higher risk of developing internet addiction (IA) among young adults. To date, no studies have explored the interplay between young adults’ family functioning, impulsivity, and psychopathological difficulties. In a community sample of 244 young adult university students, this study aims to assess the relationship between young adults’ IA and young adults’ gender, the perception of their family functioning, impulsivity level, and depressive and anxiety symptoms, considering the possible interplay between these variables. The presence and the severity of IA were addressed through the Internet Addiction Test (IAT). Moreover, young adults filled out self-reporting questionnaires, assessing their perception of family functioning and their impulsivity levels and psychopathological symptoms. Results showed no significant association between the youth’s gender and IA. However, moderately addicted young adults were more likely to report poorer quality of family affective involvement and higher attentional impulsivity and depressive problems than other groups. Moreover, young adults’ attentional impulsivity mediated the relationship between family affective involvement and IA. This study provides new evidence on the complex interaction between individuals and interpersonal risk factors involved in IA among young adults, with important implications for the planning of intervention treatments.

Impulsivity Mediates Associations Between Problematic Internet Use, Anxiety, and Depressive Symptoms in Students: A Cross-Sectional COVID-19 Study

“…Impulsivity also partially mediated the relationship between PIU and depressive symptoms, since both direct and indirect effects remained significant in the final SEM model. Our results were in line with Bisen and Deshpande (33) and Marzilli et al (32) who reported significant links between PIU and depression, anxiety and impulsivity in students' populations. In the studies by Wang et al (34) and Zhang (31) impulsivity was also a significant marker for PIU in the students.…”

“…However, the study by Zhang ( 31 ) comprising 459 undergraduate students in China found that impulsivity in particular mediated the relationship between PIU and neuroticism ( 31 ). A recent Italian study involving 244 university students found that PIU was associated with high attentional impulsivity and depressive symptoms ( 32 ). The same relationships were observed in the study analyzing data of 1,600 Indian college students which provided evidence of associations between PIU symptoms of depression, anxiety and impulsivity ( 33 ).…”

Associations Between Internet Addiction and Gender, Anxiety, Coping Styles and Acceptance in University Freshmen in South China

“…Alamgir et al found that IA has no relation to gender but has a negative association with physical activity (19). Marzilli et al concluded similar results (20). However, a recent meta-analysis showed that male Chinese college students (16%) have a higher rate of IA than their female counterparts (8%) (12).…”

Relationship Between Loneliness and Internet Addiction: Testing of Serial Mediation and Moderated Mediation Models of Interpersonal Problems and Motivation for Internet Use

“…[22] As we have already known, the cause of internet addiction is rather complex. [23]. As shown by the aforementioned documents, one study revealed that people with internet addiction tended to showed high motivation for anonymity, simpli ed communication, emotional support, social compensation and escapism [24], particularly motivation for escapism was predominantly found in online gaming [25].…”