The Prediction of Internet Addiction in Female Students Based on Cloninger’s Temperament and Character

The present study was conducted on female students of Allameh Tabataba'i University to predict Internet addiction through a seven-factor Cloninger model. The statistical population of the study consisted of all female students of Allameh Tabataba'i University studying in the academic year 2019-2020. Moreover, a sample population of 150 people was selected through the convenience sampling method. Young's Internet Addiction Test and Cloninger’s Temperament (1998) and Character Inventory (TCI-125) were administered to the sample population. The data were analyzed by Pearson’s correlation test, multiple regression. Results of Enter regression indicated that persistence dimension (b=-0.355) could account for 18.6% of variances of Internet addiction. The results of stepwise regression showed that persistence (b=-0.349) could predict 12.2% of variances of Internet addiction. Then, self-directedness was added to the prediction model which increased the explained variances of Internet addiction up to 15.4% of which 3.2% accounts particularly for self-directedness. This study may contribute to more accurate identification of involved factors in this phenomenon and provide a proper approach for prevention and treatment in line with those focused on evaluating the effective factors on Internet addiction.