The relationship between loneliness and internet addiction in university students: The mediating role of cognitive distortions

The aim of this study is to reveal the mediating role of interpersonal cognitive distortions in the relationship between loneliness and internet addiction in university students. 412 students from various departments studying at the Faculty of Education of Gaziantep University have participated in the study during the 2017-2018 academic year. Personal Information Forms, UCLA Loneliness Scale, Internet Addiction Scale and The Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale have been used in this study. In order to test the construct validity of the scales with the study group, the Exploratory Factor Analysis and the Confirmatory Factor Analysis have been conducted. During the analysis process, alongside the descriptive analysis, the t test, ANOVA, Structural Equation Modelling, and as a mediator, the Sobel Test have been used. In examining the results, men have been found to have scored higher in gender-based loneliness, internet addiction and the "avoidance of intimacy" sub-dimension of interpersonal cognitive distortions. No significant relationship has been observed regarding school year. In terms of socio-economic status, those with lower status feel lonelier, are more prone to internet addiction, and have scored higher in the "avoidance of intimacy" sub-dimension of interpersonal cognitive distortions. As a result of the analysis, a positive correlation between loneliness, and internet addiction and interpersonal cognitive distortions have been found. Interpersonal cognitive distortions have been concluded to have a partial role in the relationship between loneliness and internet addiction.