Interpersonal Support and Social Reflection are the Solution to Internet Addiction: Empirical Evidence

Abstract

The use of the internet has become one of the most leisurely activities among young adults all around the world. Growing worries over the extensive student internet usage have prompted heightened research into the determinants of internet addiction and its adverse outcomes. The existing research examined the relationships among interpersonal social support, self-reflection, social anxiety, and internet addiction in young adults. A correlation research design was used in this study. The Interpersonal Support Evaluation, Self-Reflection and Insight Scale, Social Interaction Phobia Scale, and Internet Addiction Test were used to collect data from 150 young adults having an age range 18 to 27 years. The study's results indicated a positive likelihood of a relationship between interpersonal social support and self-reflection. Conversely, an inverse correlation emerged in relation to social anxiety and internet addiction. Regression analysis unveiled interpersonal social support as an inverse predictor, while the duration of internet use in young adults positively predicted internet addiction. Moreover, no significant mean differences were found in interpersonal social support, self-reflection, social anxiety, and internet addiction between male and female young adults. The mediation models demonstrated noteworthy model fit indices and illustrated the mediation of the social anxiety-internet addiction relationship. Additionally, demographic variables (daily internet usage duration and purpose) exerted an influence on the association. The study would be helpful for the parents, institutional counselors, and teachers. if young adults are provided with interpersonal social support from their significant others, then they will not seek it in a virtual medium such as the internet.