Are self-regulation and depressive symptoms predictors of problematic Internet use among first year university students?

Within the framework of Bandura ́s theory, problematic Internet use is the product of deficient self-regulatory processes. It has previously been shown by several studies that psychosocial disorders such as anxiety or depression make people inclined to develop maladaptive behaviors. The aim of this study was to investigate whether self-regulation skills and depressive symptoms predict generalized problematic Internet use (GPIU). The study was conducted among university students using Caplan ́s model of GPIU. Previous findings related to self-regulation skills and GPIU among university students have not produced consistent results. A cross-sectional design was employed to assess the study objective. First year university students from Slovakia (n=814) completed the Short Self-Regulation Questionnaire, Modified Beck Depression Inventory and Generalized Problematic Internet Use Scale 2. Linear regression models were built to explore whether self-regulation and depressive symptoms predict problematic Internet use. No gender differences were found regarding the pattern of associations between self-regulation and GPIU nor between depressive symptoms and GPIU. Higher levels of depressive symptoms positively predicted GPIU (p<0.001). Self-regulation negatively predicted GPIU (p<0.001). Gender was not associated with GPIU. This study showed that problems with self-regulation skills as well as depressive symptoms might lead to problematic Internet use.