Ability to initiate relationships and sense of loneliness mediate the relationship between low self-esteem and excessive
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Ability to initiate relationships and sense of loneliness mediate the relationship between low self-esteem and excessive internet use Aleksandra Dembińska 1
&
Joanna Kłosowska 2
&
Dominika Ochnik 3
Accepted: 15 October 2020 # The Author(s) 2020
Abstract The purpose of the study was to identify possible mechanisms underlying the relationship between low self-esteem and excessive Internet use in a non-clinical sample of young adults. Basing on the theoretical framework and results of existing studies we hypothesized that the association between self-esteem and excessive Internet use will be serially mediated by the ability to initiate contact with others and sense of loneliness. The study sample consisted of 506 participants (60% women) aged between 18 and 35 years (mean = 19). The following questionnaires were administered: the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the UCLA Loneliness Scale, the Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire and the Excessive Internet Use Scale. The last measure was prepared by authors for the purpose of the study. Serial mediation analysis was conducted. In line with our hypotheses the link between low self-esteem and excessive Internet use was found to be sequentially mediated by the capability to initiate social contacts and chronic loneliness. Difficulty in engaging in social interaction leading to the sense of loneliness may explain the link between low self-esteem and excessive Internet use. These results may help to design early intervention programs. Keywords Self-esteem . Loneliness . Interpersonal competence . Excessive internet use . Serial mediation model
Introduction Since the mid-1990s there has been an ongoing debate on the phenomenon of Internet addiction, triggered inadvertently by Goldberg (1996). The Internet Addiction Disorder (IAD)is a complex and heterogeneous phenomenon characterised by the inner urge to be online. According to Goldberg Pathological Computer/ Internet Use Disorder is a term suggested to describe the situation when people use the Internet in excess which leads to distress and impacts their physical, interpersonal, social, family and economic functioning. Kimberly Young (1996), a pioneer of research on this phenomenon listed the following symptoms of Internet addiction: –
preoccupation with the Internet;
* Aleksandra Dembińska [email protected] 1
Department of Psychology, Pedagogical University of Cracow, Krakow, Poland
2
Institute of Psychology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
3
Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Technology in Katowice, Katowice, Poland
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need to spend more time online; trying to reduce Internet use; symptoms of withdrawal after reducing the duration/ intensity of Internet use; time management issues (following excessive use of the Internet); issues with the social circles (family, school, work, friends); underestimating time spent in the Internet; mood modification following Internet use.
Some authors postulate that Internet addiction should be differentiated from excessive Internet use (Ponte
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