The mediating effect of social anxiety and social isolation on the relationship between self-efficacy and digital addiction

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of self-efficacy on digital addiction and the serial multiple mediating roles of social anxiety and social isolation in this relationship. The study sample consists of 400 individuals, 212 female and 188 male, living in Turkey, who were reached through online platforms and volunteered to participate in the study. Data were collected using the Sociodemographic Form, Self-Efficacy Scale, Digital Addiction Scale, Social Anxiety Scale and Social Isolation Scale. Analyses were conducted using IBM SPSS 26 program. Descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), Kruskal Wallis, Pearson Correlation analysis and Hayes' Process macro 4.2 (Model 6) were used in the analyses. The findings revealed that there is a significant negative relationship between self-efficacy and digital addiction. Social anxiety and social isolation played a mediating role in this relationship both separately and serially. The research variables; Significant differences were found based on gender, age, marital status, and duration of digital device use. The results suggest that self-efficacy is a protective variable against digital addiction and that social-emotional factors play a critical role in this relationship.