Mediating Role of Loneliness in Relation between Abusive Personality Dimensions and Internet Addiction in Social Networking Users

The use of social networks is increasing rapidly. Considering the significant individual differences in Internet addiction strategies, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between abnormal dimensions of personality and internet addiction through loneliness mediation. In a descriptive study, 320 people were selected by available sampling method. Data were gathered using demographic questionnaires, Russell, Pylou, Catrona (1980), and the Younger Addiction Questionnaire (2010) and a short form of Personality Inventory for DSM-5: Brief Form (PID-5-BF) DSM was used. Data were then analyzed using structural equation modeling method using AMOS-20 software. Our results showed that there is a significant relationship between abnormal dimensions of personality and loneliness and the tendency toward Internet addiction in users (P = 0.01). The proposed model had a good fit (GFI = 0.97, AGFI = 0.95, CFI = 0.79, RMSEA = 0.05, χ2 / df = 90/1), and the results of mediating the role of loneliness in the relationship between Abnormal dimensions of personality and readiness for Internet addiction are fully supported. The abusive dimensions of personality are directly and indirectly influenced by the tendency towards Internet addiction through loneliness. In preventing the Internet addiction vulnerability, intervention in abusive personality and loneliness may be important in student user groups.