The Mediating Role of Difficulties in Emotion Regulation and Social Anxiety in the Relationship between Self-Compassion and Internet Addiction

Internet addiction continues to be a significant concern, particularly among university students who are increasingly dependent on digital technologies for academic and social activities. Recent research highlights a rising trend in Internet addiction, emphasizing the urgent need to understand and address the underlying factors contributing to this issue, which has been linked to numerous negative outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and reduced academic performance. Notably, a negative link between self-compassion and Internet addiction has been suggested, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unexplored. To address this gap, the study examines the roles of difficulties in emotion regulation and social anxiety as potential mediators in the relationship between self-compassion and Internet addiction. This study specifically examines a non-clinical sample of 975 young adults, most of whom were university students, with an average age of 21 years, where 60% were female, to explore patterns of Internet usage and its psychological impacts. The study showed that those with greater self-compassion experienced fewer difficulties in regulating emotions, which led to reduced social anxiety and, consequently, lower levels of Internet addiction. In conclusion, the study suggests that difficulties in emotion regulation and social anxiety significantly contribute to Internet addiction, particularly through the lens of self-compassion. These insights enhance our understanding of how to prevent the negative impacts of Internet addiction.