The mediating relationship between internet addiction with happiness and personality traits in students

This study aimed to develop a mediating model of internet addiction disorder, the amount of happiness and personality characteristics.
This study is a correlational and the statistical population included all students of Ferdowsi University of Mashhad in the academic year of 2015-2016. 384 students were selected using stratified random sampling based on Krejcie and Morgan Table. They completed the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the NEO personality questionnaires (NEO) and the Oxford Happiness Inventory (OHI) as well as a demographic information checklist. Data were analyzed using statistical methods, descriptive statistics and path analysis.
Findings indicated that the first model was not sufficiently fitted, so the modified model showed a better fit with the data (CFI=0.99, AGFI=0.97, GFI =0.99, RSMEA= 0.02, χ2/df= 1.15). In this model, it was found that among NEO Five-Factor personality traits, neuroticism had a significant correlation with the Internet addiction (R=0.18). In addition, among personality traits, neuroticism had a significant correlation with the Internet addiction, and a significant negative relationship between conscientiousness and the internet addiction was obtained (R= -13, P<0.05).
According to the findings, a structural analysis of personality variables, and happiness showed a clearer picture of the relationship between psychological structures and addiction to the Internet.