Social interaction anxiety and Internet addiction among university students in medical and health sciences: the mediating role of fear of missing out
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Internet addiction has garnered attention owing to its psychological, social, and intellectual repercussions on individuals. Individuals exhibiting problematic and excessive Internet usage often participate in online activities, potentially leading to the development of addictive behaviours over time. Online actions are believed to stem from social interaction anxiety related to the pursuit of connection and acceptance, as well as the fear of missing out on social advancements. Given the detrimental consequences of Internet addiction on individuals, it is crucial to comprehend the associated elements. This research investigated the regression-based mediation role of fear of missing out in the relationship between social interaction anxiety and Internet addiction among university students. A sample of 301 Turkish university students in medical and health sciences from a public university (62.8% females; M = 21.61 years, SD = 2.01, age range = 18-39) participated in an online survey via the Google Forms platform. This study utilised the Turkish adaptations of the original Social Interaction Anxiety Scale, Young Internet Addiction Test-Short Form, and Fear of Missing Out Scale. The model findings indicated that social interaction anxiety exerts both a direct and an indirect influence on Internet addiction. Furthermore, fear of missing out was identified as a partial mediator in the link between social interaction anxiety and Internet addiction. These findings emphasise the importance of focusing on social interaction anxiety and fear of missing out in interventions to reduce Internet addiction.
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