Sensation Seeking and Internet Addiction in Adolescents: Moderating and Mediating Mechanisms

Abstract

Background Sensation seeking may lead to Internet abuse. This study aimed to investigate whether sensation-seeking behavior in adolescents is linked to Internet addiction and, if so, how this relationship is influenced by self-control and emotion-focused coping. Methods A total of 416 adolescents completed inventories on sensation-seeking, self-control, and emotion-focused coping. Results Our findings suggest that the Disinhibition and Boredom Susceptibility subcomponents of sensation-seeking behavior predicted Internet addiction, which was further mediated by emotion-focused coping. Specifically, adolescents with low levels of self-control had higher scores on emotion-focused coping and Internet addiction, supporting a moderating and mediating model. Conclusion Our results are consistent with the Interaction of Person-Affect-Cognition-Execution model and suggest that sensation-seeking behavior and Internet addiction are best understood in the context of self-control and emotion-focused coping. We discuss the implications of these moderating and mediating mechanisms.