Perceived Social Support Mediates the Relationships between Depression and Problematic Internet Use

Objectives. Research on problematic internet use and mental health has been conducted primarily among adolescents. Little is known about this relationship among adults. This study investigated whether social support and social self-efficacy (SSE) mediate the relationship between perceived problematic internet use (PPIU; e.g., delaying important activities or failing to control time spent online) and depression among adults. Methods. An internet-based, cross-sectional survey was administered to 559 adults in western Washington. Items assessed demographics, perceived social support, social self-efficacy, perceptions of internet use, and depression. Mediation pathways were tested using structural equation modeling. Results. The hypothesis that perceived social support and SSE mediate the relationship between PPIU and depression was supported. PPIU was negatively linked with both social support and SSE, which were both positively linked with depression. This suggests that social support and SSE represent important mediators of the relationship between PPIU and depression among a sample of U.S. adults. Conclusions. The findings of this study indicate that, among internet using adults, PPIU – that is, individuals' recognition that their internet use behaviors are interfering with other aspects of their lives – is associated with higher levels of depression. While directionality remains unclear, it seems that individuals' perceptions of their social relationships may represent a particularly important target for interventions seeking to reduce depression among problematic internet users. SSE appears to be not only an important intermediary in the relationship between problematic internet use and depression, but also related to individual perceptions of social support.