Mediating Role of Family Relations between Internet Addiction and Aggression Among University Students

Abstract

The current study aimed to find out relationship between internet addiction, aggression and family relations in university students. Moreover, the study also examined the mediating role of family relations between internet addiction and aggression among university students. The University students were recruited as sample as researchers have found that majority of young adults use internet as time pass and become addicted but they are not aware of the addition (Hassan et al., 2020). Cross-sectional survey research design was used and data was collected through purposive sampling technique using Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998), Aggression Questionnaire (Buss & Perry, 1992) and Index of Family Relations (Hudson, 1992). In addition, gender differences were also studied. Sample comprised of 300 students between the age of 18 and 35 years (M = 29.09, SD = 11.32). Bivariate correlation matrix revealed that internet addiction had significant positive relationship with aggression (r = 0.88, p < 0.01) and significant negative relationship with family relations (r = -0.86, p < 0.01). Moreover, mediating role of family relations was found to be significant in relationship between internet addiction and aggression among university students. However, gender differences were found to be non-significant on internet addiction, family relations and aggression among university students. The study will be useful in highlighting the importance of good family relations in minimizing adverse effects of internet addiction and aggression among university students.