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Abstract
This study investigated whether university students levels of loneliness, depression, and computer self-efficacy were significant predictors of their problematic Internet use levels. The study was carried out with 559
Turkish university students. The research data were analyzed by multiple regression analysis. The findings indicated that loneliness, depression, and computer self-efficacy were significant predictors of problematic Internet use. Loneliness was found as the most important predictive variable. Depression predicted problematic
Internet use on the second rank, and computer self-efficacy on the third rank.
Introduction
Methods
Participants
HE INTERNET IS
1Department
2Center
699
700
TABLE 1.
Model
1
2
3
RESULTS
OF
Variable
Standard
error
Constant
Loneliness
Constant
Loneliness
Depression
Constant
Loneliness
Depression
Computer
self-efficacy
24.05
0.99
26.16
0.77
0.58
10.43
0.69
0.64
0.24
3.24
0.08
3.20
0.09
0.12
4.61
0.09
0.12
0.05
0.47
0.36
0.21
0.32
0.24
0.18
TO THE
PREDICTION
OF
Paired r
Partial r
Adj. R2
Increase
in R2
Standard
errorR
0.47
0.47
0.47
0.218
0.218
18.83
147.90**
0.47
0.40
0.34
0.23
0.50
0.251
0.033
18.43
89.32**
0.47
0.40
0.22
0.31
0.23
0.20
0.53
0.279
0.028
18.07
69.15**
7.42**
12.16**
8.17**
8.28**
4.92**
2.26*
7.45**
5.51**
4.67**
cognitive-behavioral model of PIU.6 Also, the research findings are consistent with those of other studies in literature,
which found a relationship between depression1,79 and
loneliness711 and excessive/pathological/problematic or Internet dependency.
The research findings supports the view that the previously-existing psychopathologies of individuals could provoke the development of problematic behaviors and cognitions with their Internet experiences.7 However, it is difficult
to determine whether loneliness is a symptom of excessive
Internet use or whether heavy Internet use is a symptom of
loneliness.12 The present study found that loneliness was the
most important predictor as a variable. This finding is consistent with the findings that loneliness and self-esteem had
the strongest relationship with the negative results of Internet use.7 It was also revealed in this study that depression
was less predictive of problematic Internet use than loneliness. This finding is also consistent with the finding that
while loneliness played an important role in the development of problematic Internet use, depression had little influence on the process.13
In conclusion, this study indicates that the findings obtained from a study group of Turkish university students are
consistent with those found in the related literature. The current study has several limitations. The study is inadequate
for examining causal relationships, and includes the students
of only one university and the data on the basis of self-report scales.
Acknowledgments
This research is a part of project titled Problematic Internet Usage: A Multidimensional Investigation on Anadolu
University Students supported by Anadolu University Scientific Research Fund. Also, this study was presented at the
Ninth National Congress of Counseling Psychology and
Guidance, Izmir, Turkey 2007.
Disclosure Statement
The authors have no conflict of interest.
References
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11. Moody EJ. Internet use and its relationship to loneliness. CyberPsychology & Behavior 2001; 4:393401.
12. Morahan-Martin J. The relationship between loneliness and
Internet use and abuse. CyberPsychology & Behavior 1999;
2:43140.
13. Caplan SE. Preference for online social interaction. A theory
of problematic Internet use and psychosocial well-being.
Communication Research 2003; 30:62548.