Prediction of Internet Addiction in University Students Based on Personality, Attachment Styles, and Emotion Regulation

The Internet and social networks and their important and practical role in human life can also be destructive and addictive. Internet addiction in students can have negative effects on their education process. This study investigated the predictive relationship between personality traits, attachment styles, and emotional regulation with internet addiction. The research method of this study was cross-sectional, and a convenience sampling method was used for recruiting participants. Forty-two males and 188 females completed the self-reported questionnaires through the online link. All analyses were performed by SPSS software version 24.

The results indicated that Ambivalent/Anxious Attachment, Conscientiousness, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism were the best predictors of Internet Addiction (p < 0.001) and their combination could predict 20.3 % of its variance. Screening internet addiction in at-risk people and incorporating prevention programs are needed. Future research using multiple assessment methods, including longitudinal designs, and identifying pathways between internet addiction and health risks is recommended.