Internet use expectancy for tension reduction and disinhibition mediates the relationship between borderline personality disorder features and Internet addiction among college students – One-year follow-up. (February 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wu, Jo Yung-Wei; Ko, Huei-Chen; Tung, Yuk-Ying; Li, Cheng-Chieh
• Is Part Of: Computers in human behavior. Volume 55: Part B(2016)
• Page Start: 851
• Page End: 855
• Publication Date: 2016-02
• Subjects: Borderline personality disorder features -- Internet addiction severity -- Internet use expectancy -- Tension reduction -- Disinhibition; Interactive computer systems -- Periodicals; Man-machine systems -- Periodicals; 004.019
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chb.2015.09.047
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0747-5632

Abstract

Abstract: Borderline personality disorder (BPD) features with affective instability and impulsivity have been shown to correlate with Internet addiction (IA) in cross-sectional studies. Moreover, Internet use expectancies were found to be positively associated with IA. Thus, this follow-up study was aimed to examine whether BPD features would increase the risk for IA severity, mediated through the Internet use expectation as a coping method for tension reduction and disinhibition. 1826 Taiwan college students were sampled through a stratified and random clustering in time 1 (T1), and 623 students were followed up one year later (T2). A comprehensive survey was administered. Structure equation modeling results showed that IA severity (T2) was significantly predicted by BPD features (T1), fully mediated through Internet use expectancy for tension reduction and disinhibition (T2). The model yielded an adequate fit, and was able to explain 43.0% of the variance. The mediating role of the Internet use expectation for tension reduction and disinhibition in the relationship between BPD features and IA severity were discussed. Highlights: BPD features (T1) was significantly correlated with IA severity (T2). BPD features (T1) was significantly correlated with IUETRD (T2). Internet use expectancy fully mediated the relationship between BPD (T1) and IA (T2).