A determination to the relationship between loneliness and internet addiction among college students based on liquidity preference theory

Abstract

Abstract Background Nowadays, Internet addiction is becoming increasingly popular among college students, causing great harm to their physical and mental health. More and more researchers pay attention to Internet addiction. However, the influencing factors of it were not clear. This study aimed to explore the influencing factors, then explained it with liquidity preference theory, hoping our findings might provide theoretical basis for preventing Internet addiction.Methods A total of 2355 college students were randomly selected to complete questionnaires consisted of sociodemographic data, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Internet Addiction Test from 2021 to 2022 in Wuhan, China. The multivariable linear and logistic regressions were conducted to explore the influencing factors of Internet addiction.Results In this survey, the prevalence of internet addiction was 33.7% (794/2355). According to the multiple linear regression analysis, low level of satisfaction in school and professional satisfaction, the experience of childhood maltreatment, and the high level of loneliness were risk factors for Internet addiction. However, age and grade were the protective factors for Internet addiction. Graduate students had lower rates of Internet addiction than undergraduates. In the fully corrected model multiple logistic regression analysis, students with average and high levels of loneliness had 1.84 times and 4.83 times the risk of Internet addiction compared with individuals with low levels of loneliness.Conclusion Students with high levels of loneliness were at higher risk for Internet addiction. Perhaps we could reduce the loneliness of students by organizing more group activities, so as to reduce the rate of Internet addiction.