The Mediating Role of Communication Skills in the Relationship between Personality Traits and High-Risk Use of the Internet in Semnan Farhangian University Students

The aim of this study was to determine the mediating role of communication skills in the relationship between personality traits and high-risk use of the Internet in the Farhangian University of Semnan students. The research was done by analytical method and structural equation modeling. The statistical population included all undergraduate students of Farhangian University of Semnan in the academic year of 2019-2020, numbering 750 people, out of which 275 people were selected by the available sampling method. To collect data from the Queendom Communication Skills Questionnaire (CSQ) (2004), Costa and McGarry's Five Personality Factors (FPQ) (2004), and the High-Risk Internet Use Screening Scale of Jelenchik & et al (QHUI) (2014) used. In order to analyze the data, structural equation modeling was used. The results of the research showed that the direct effects of personality traits on high-risk use of the Internet were significant (p<0.001). On the other hand, the indirect effect of personality traits on high-risk use of the Internet with the mediation of communication skills was significant (p<0.001). The goodness of fit indices also indicated the appropriate fit of the model. Based on the findings of this research, it can be concluded that personality traits through the mediation of communication skills can explain the model of high-risk use of the Internet.