大学新生网络使用时间与网络成瘾的关系：有中介的调节模型

The Relationship between Time Spent Online and Internet Addiction among Chinese College Freshmen: A Mediated Moderation Model

通过整群取样的方法选取北京市某所高校2250名大一新生为测查对象,采用问卷方式探讨了大学新生网络使用时间、网络社交使用占网络使用总时间的比重、网络使用的背景性渴求以及网络成瘾程度之间的关系。基于网络使用满足的相关理论以及渴求的条件反射理论,本研究构建了一个有中介的调节模型,即网络社交使用比重在网络使用时间与网络成瘾之间起调节作用,而且这一调节作用通过网络使用的背景性渴求这一中介变量得以实现。结果显示:(1)大学新生每周上网时间为13.58±8.94小时,网络社交使用占全部上网时间的比重为27.18±18.15%;(2)网络使用时间、网络社交使用比重、网络使用背景性渴求与网络成瘾的五个维度及总分呈显著正相关;(3)网络使用时间以及网络社交使用比重均能够直接正向预测网络成瘾,同时网络社交比重在网络使用时间预测网络成瘾这一关系中起调节作用,即相比较少使用网络社交的被试,较多使用网络社交的群体表现出更高的网络成瘾程度,且网络使用时间对网络成瘾程度的预测作用相对较低;而且网络社交比重的调节作用部分通过网络使用的背景性渴求这一中介变量实现。

Internet addiction is becoming a worldwide mental health problem, and college students are one of several subgroups most vulnerable to this problem. Empirical studies have found that spent more time online may predict Internet addiction. This result is compatible with the theory of usage and gratification regarding the Internet. However, other empirical studies suggest that this association between time online and Internet addiction is moderated by the extent to which the Internet is used for social interactions. Thus, the first aim of the study was to examine the relationship between Internet addiction and time spent online and to determine whether the ratio of Internet for social use to total Internet use moderated this relationship. Studies have also found that craving for Internet use, which may lead to increased feelings of pleasure and reward when using the Internet, may present a key psychological variable in predicting and maintaining the intensity and degree of Intemet addiction. According to the theory of conditioning-based craving, this craving is an unconscious reaction formed by repetitive stimulations that are especially pleasant and rewarding. The second aim of the study was to examine the extent to which Internet craving might mediate the relationship between time spent online and Internet addition. Considering that Internet-based social interactions may be more likely to provide people with pleasure and immediate rewards, we also tested whether the moderating effect of the ratio of Internet social use may be completely or partially mediated by craving for Internet use. A sample of 2250 freshmen was recruited for the study to answer a series of anonymous questionnaires reporting their Internet addiction level, their Internet use status, and their level of Internet use craving. Based on theories of usage and gratification regarding the Internet and conditioning-based models of craving proposed in the literature, a mediated moderation model was constructed in which the ratio of Internet social use moderated the relationship between the time spent online and Internet addiction and this moderated effect of Internet addiction was mediated by the craving of Internet use. The data were analyzed by the Structural Equation Model using the AMOS 17.0 program. Our findings are as follows： （1） students spent 13.58 ± 8.94 hours per week online on average and Internet social use occupied 27.18 ± 18.15% of the total time of Internet use; （2） time spent online, the ratio of Internet social use, and craving for Internet use showed significant positive correlations with the five dimensions of Internet addiction and its total score; （3） time spent online and the ratio of Internet social use directly predicted Internet addiction. The ratio of Internet social use moderated the relationship between time spent online and Internet addiction. That is, subjects with a higher ratio of Internet social use showed significantly higher Internet addiction levels relative to subjects with a lower ratio of Internet social use, and the ability of time spent online to predict Internet addiction was comparatively lower for subjects who had greater social use of the Internet. Additionally, the moderating effect of the ratio of Intemet social interaction was partially mediated by craving of Internet use. In summary, this study suggests that future studies of Internet addiction might investigate the type and the craving of people＇s Intemet use in addition to their time spent online. Our findings provide a theoretical and empirical basis for future work on prevention and intervention efforts relating to Internet addiction.