Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Associations between sense of coherence, psychological distress, escape motivation of internet use, and internet addiction among Chinese college students: A structural equation model

  • Published:
Current Psychology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Internet addiction (IA) is a common public health problem among college students, but little is known about the psychological mechanism of its relation to sense of coherence. This study extends previous literature by examining the associations between sense of coherence, psychological distress, escape motivation, and IA. Cluster random sampling is used to obtain a sample of Chinese college students (N = 4171, Mean age = 19.26, SD = 1.18) through an online survey. Data are analyzed by using structural equation modeling. Results indicate that sense of coherence not only directly predicts IA, but also indirectly affects IA through the mediators of psychological distress and escape motivation of Internet use. In particular, sense of coherence decreases the level of psychological distress (β = −0.639, p < 0.001), which in turn, increases the level of escape motivation (β = 0.353, p < 0.001), thereby positively predicting IA (β = 0.339, p < 0.001) among Chinese college students. This study contributes to the current knowledge of the protective and risk factors of IA and reveals the psychological mechanisms from sense of coherence to IA. Practical implications are also provided for clinical interventions to reduce IA among Chinese college students.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Akin, A., Arslan, S., Arslan, N., Uysal, R., & Sahranç, Ü. (2015). Self-control management and internet addiction. International Online Journal of Educational Sciences, 7(3), 95–100.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J. C., & Gerbing, D. W. (1988). Structural equation modeling in practice – a review and recommended 2-step approach. Psychological Bulletin, 103(3), 411–423.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Antonovsky, A. (1987). Unraveling the mystery of health: How people manage stress and stay well. Jossey Bass.

  • Antonovsky, A. (1996). The salutogenic model as a theory to guide health promotion. Health Promotion International, 11(1), 11–18.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Arghabaei, M., Soleimanian, A. A., & Mohammadipour, M. (2018). The role of family emotional atmosphere, sense of coherence, and affects in the prediction of tendency toward substance use among university students. Iranian Journal of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychology, 24(3), 310–323.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bao, L. P., Liu, J. S., & Zhou, Y. (2006). Reliability and validity of sense of coherence-13(SOC-13). Chinese Mental Health Journal, 20(5), 299–301.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bryant, J., & Zillmann, D. (1984). Using television to alleviate boredom and stress – selective exposure as a function of induced excitational states. Journal of Broadcasting, 28(1), 1–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Byrne, B. M. (2001). Structural equation modeling with AMOS: Basic concepts, applications, and programming. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates Publishers.

  • Byrne, B. M. (2013). Structural equation modeling with Mplus: Basic concepts, applications, and programming. Routledge.

  • Chen, G. L., & Gueta, K. (2020). Sense of coherence as a recovery capital in recovery from substance use disorders. Journal of Addictive Diseases, 38(4), 529–539.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • China Internet Network Information Center (CNNIC) (2021). The 47th China Statistical Report on Internet development. http://www.cnnic.net.cn/hlwfzyj/hlwxzbg/hlwtjbg/202102/P020210203334633480104.pdf. Accessed: May 15, 2021.

  • Cui, L. J., & Liu, L. (2003). The influence of the internet on the sociality development of undergraduates. Psychological Science, 26(1), 64–66.

    Google Scholar 

  • Davis, R. A. (2001). A cognitive-behavioral model of pathological internet use. Computers in Human Behavior, 17(2), 187–195.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Del-Pino-Casado, R., Espinosa-Medina, A., Lopez-Martinez, C., & Orgeta, V. (2019). Sense of coherence, burden and mental health in caregiving: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Journal of Affective Disorders, 242, 14–21.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Dou, W. J., Li, H. P., Yang, Y. J., Su, D., Zhang, T., Mei, Y. Q., & Ma, L. (2016). Related factors of sense of coherence among patients with breast cancer living in rural areas during chemotherapy. Chinese Mental Health Journal, 30(2), 91–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • ElSalhy, M., Miyazaki, T., Noda, Y., Nakajima, S., Nakayama, H., Mihara, S., Kitayuguchi, T., Higuchi, S., Muramatsu, T., & Mimura, M. (2019). Relationships between internet addiction and clinicodemographic and behavioral factors. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 15, 739–752.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Eriksson, M., & Lindstrom, B. (2005). Validity of Antonovsky’s sense of coherence scale: A systematic review. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 59(6), 460–466.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Forsberg, K. A., Bjorkman, T., Sandman, P. O., & Sandlund, M. (2010). Influence of a lifestyle intervention among persons with a psychiatric disability: A cluster randomized controlled trail on symptoms, quality of life and sense of coherence. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 19(11–12), 1519–1528.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, T. T., Li, J. M., Zhang, H., Gao, J. L., Kong, Y. X., Hu, Y. Y., & Mei, S. L. (2018). The influence of alexithymia on mobile phone addiction: The role of depression, anxiety and stress. Journal of Affective Disorders, 225, 761–766.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gao, W., Ping, S., & Liu, X. (2020). Gender differences in depression, anxiety, and stress among college students: A longitudinal study from China. Journal of Affective Disorders, 263, 292–300.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Garcia-Moya, I., Jimenez-Iglesias, A., & Moreno, C. (2013). Sense of coherence and substance use in Spanish adolescents. Does the effect of SOC depend on patterns of substance use in their peer group? Addictions, 25(2), 109–117.

    Google Scholar 

  • Grevenstein, D., & Bluemke, M. (2015). Can the big five explain the criterion validity of sense of coherence for mental health, life satisfaction, and personal distress? Personality and Individual Differences, 77, 106–111.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haddad, L., El-Shahawy, O., Ghadban, R., Barnett, T. E., & Johnson, E. (2015). Waterpipe smoking and regulation in the United States: A comprehensive review of the literature. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 12(6), 6115–6135.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling-A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1–55.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hussain, Z., Simonovic, B., Stupple, E. J. N., & Austin, M. (2019). Using eye tracking to explore Facebook use and associations with Facebook addiction, mental well-being, and personality. Behavioral Sciences, 9(2), 19.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kase, T., Ueno, Y., Shimamoto, K., & Oishi, K. (2019). Causal relationships between sense of coherence and life skills: Examining the short-term longitudinal data of Japanese youths. Mental Health & Prevention, 13, 14–20.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kessler, R. C., Andrews, G., Colpe, L. J., Hiripi, E., Mroczek, D. K., Normand, S.-L. T., Walters, E. E., & Zaslavsky, A. M. (2002). Short screening scales to monitor population prevalences and trends in non-specific psychological distress. Psychological Medicine, 32, 959–976.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Khantzian, E. J. (1985). The self-medication hypothesis of addictive disorders – focus on heroin and cocaine dependence. American Journal of Psychiatry, 142(11), 1259–1264.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J., & Haridakis, P. M. (2009). The role of internet user characteristics and motives in explaining three dimensions of internet addiction. Journal of Computer-Mediated Communication, 14(4), 988–1015.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kim, J., Hong, H., Lee, J., & Hyun, M. H. (2017). Effects of time perspective and self-control on procrastination and internet addiction. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(2), 229–236.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kohut, M. L., Lee, W., Martin, A., Arnston, B., Russell, D. W., Ekkekakis, P., Yoon, K. J., Bishop, A., & Cunnick, J. E. (2005). The exercise-induced enhancement of influenza immunity is mediated in part by improvements in psychosocial factors in older adults. Brain Behavior and Immunity, 19(4), 357–366.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Koob, G. F. (2013). Theoretical frameworks and mechanistic aspects of alcohol addiction: Alcohol addiction as a reward deficit disorder. Behavioral Neurobiology of Alcohol Addiction, 13, 3–30.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kuss, D. J., & Lopez-Fernandez, O. (2016). Internet addiction and problematic internet use: A systematic review of clinical research. World Journal of Psychiatry, 6(1), 143–176.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Kwok, S. W. H., Lee, P. H., & Lee, R. L. T. (2017). Smart device use and perceived physical and psychosocial outcomes among Hong Kong adolescents. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 14(2), 205.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Lance, C. E., Butts, M. M., & Michels, L. C. (2006). The sources of four commonly reported cutoff criteria – what did they really say? Organizational Research Methods, 9(2), 202–220.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Langham, E., Russell, A. M., Hing, N., & Gainsbury, S. M. (2017). Sense of coherence and gambling: Exploring the relationship between sense of coherence, gambling behaviour and gambling-related harm. Journal of Gambling Studies, 33(2), 661–684.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Lee, D. (2019). The convergent, discriminant, and nomological validity of the depression anxiety stress Scales-21 (DASS-21). Journal of Affective Disorders, 259, 136–142.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Li, L., Xu, D. D., Chai, J. X., Wang, D., Li, L., Zhang, L., Lu, L., Ng, C. H., Ungvari, G. S., Mei, S. L., & Xiang, Y. T. (2018). Prevalence of internet addiction disorder in Chinese university students: A comprehensive meta-analysis of observational studies. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 7(3), 610–623.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Li, G., Hou, G., Yang, D., Jian, H., & Wang, W. (2019). Relationship between anxiety, depression, sex, obesity, and internet addiction in Chinese adolescents: A short-term longitudinal study. Addictive Behaviors, 90, 421–427.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Liu, Y., Li, L., Ma, Y., Liang, Z. H., Sun, Z. F., Cui, J. G., Liu, Z. Y., & Zhao, F. Y. (2021). Incidence rate of college students’ internet addiction in China: A meta-analysis. Chinese Journal of Evidence-Based Medicine, 21(1), 61–68.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lu, X., Watanabe, J., Liu, Q. B., Uji, M., Shono, M., & Kitamura, T. (2011). Internet and mobile phone text-messaging dependency: Factor structure and correlation with dysphoric mood among Japanese adults. Computers in Human Behavior, 27(5), 1702–1709.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moksnes, U. K., Espnes, G. A., & Lillefjell, M. (2012). Sense of coherence and emotional health in adolescents. Journal of Adolescence, 35(2), 433–441.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Munakata T. (2007). Learning structured association technique, 205–240. Kanekoshobo Publishing, JP.

  • Nagase, S., Morita, N., Ogai, Y., & Saito, T. (2016). Evaluation of the relationship between internet addiction and interpersonal relationships in university students in Japan. Japanese Journal of Alcohol & Drug Dependence, 51(3), 184–202.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nagata, S., McCormick, B., & Piatt, J. (2020). Leisure behavior and sense of coherence in the context of depression. Journal of Community Psychology, 48(2), 283–301.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neuner, B., Miller, P., Maulhardt, A., Weiss-Gerlach, E., Neumann, T., Lau, A., Brähler, E., Helmert, U., Haas, N., Müller, J. M., Wernecke, K. D., & Spies, C. (2006). Hazardous alcohol consumption and sense of coherence in emergency department patients with minor trauma. Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 82(2), 143–150.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Olsson, M., Hansson, K., Lundblad, A. M., & Cederblad, M. (2006). Sense of coherence: Definition and explanation. International Journal of Social Welfare, 15(3), 219–229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Panova, T., & Lleras, A. (2016). Avoidance or boredom: Negative mental health outcomes associated with use of information and communication technologies depend on users’ motivations. Computers in Human Behavior, 58, 249–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, W. M., & Schmitt, N. (2004). Parameter recovery and model fit using multidimensional composites: A comparison of four empirical parceling algorithms. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 39(3), 379–412.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Savolainen, J., Suominen-Taipale, A. L., Hausen, H., Harju, P., Uutela, A., Martelin, T., & Knuuttila, M. (2005). Sense of coherence as a determinant of the oral health-related quality of life: A national study in Finnish adults. European Journal of Oral Sciences, 113(2), 121–127.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Seki, T., Hamazaki, K., Natori, T., & Inadera, H. (2019). Relationship between internet addiction and depression among Japanese university students. Journal Affective Disorders, 256, 668–672.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shao, Y. J., Zheng, T., Wang, Y. Q., Liu, L., Chen, Y., & Yao, Y. S. (2018). Internet addiction detection rate among college students in the People’s Republic of China: A meta-analysis. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health, 12(1), 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Shen, Y., Meng, F., Xu, H., Li, X., Zhang, Y., Huang, C., Luo, X., & Zhang, X. Y. (2020). Internet addiction among college students in a Chinese population: Prevalence, correlates, and its relationship with suicide attempts. Depression and Anxiety, 37(8), 812–821.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Shrout, P. E., & Bolger, N. (2002). Mediation in experimental and nonexperimental studies: New procedures and recommendations. Psychological Methods, 7(4), 422–445.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Togari, T., Yamazaki, Y., Takayama, T. S., Yamaki, C. K., & Nakayama, K. (2008). Follow-up study on the effects of sense of coherence on well-being after two years in Japanese university undergraduate students. Personality and Individual Differences, 44(6), 1335–1347.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Toth, A., Soos, R., Szovak, E., Najbauer, N. M., Tenyi, D., Csabi, G., & Wilhelm, M. (2020). Energy drink consumption, depression, and salutogenic sense of coherence among adolescents and young adults. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(4), 1290.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Vogt, K., Hakanen, J. J., Jenny, G. J., & Bauer, G. F. (2016). Sense of coherence and the motivational process of the job-demands–resources model. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 21(2), 194–207.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Wu, A. M. S., Lai, M. H. C., Yu, S., Lau, J. T. F., & Lei, M. W. (2017). Motives for online gaming questionnaire: Its psychometric properties and correlation with internet gaming disorder symptoms among Chinese people. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 6(1), 11–20.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Xu, H., Xiong, H. Y., Chen, Y. H., Wang, L., Liu, T., Kang, Y. K., Fu, L. L., Kang, L., Xie, L., Li, N., Wang, Y. M., Tan, Z. P., Liu, C. B., Yin, X. L., Xu, Q. J., Luo, Y., Feng, J., Li, T., & Deng, W. (2013). The application of the Chinese version of K6 and K10 screening scales for psychological distress on the psychological investigation of college students. Modem Preventive Medicine, 40(24), 4493–4496.

    Google Scholar 

  • Yamazaki Y., Togari T., & Sakano J. (2015). Introduction to the sense of coherence and salutogenesis–mechanism and application of salutogenic model and approach. Yusinto Publishing, JP.

  • Yang, Z., Asbury, K., & Griffiths, M. D. (2019). An exploration of problematic smartphone use among Chinese university students: Associations with academic anxiety, academic procrastination, self-regulation and subjective wellbeing. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 17(3), 596–614.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yano, K., Kase, T., & Oishi, K. (2019). The effects of sensory-processing sensitivity and sense of coherence on depressive symptoms in university students. Health Psychology Open, 6(2), 205510291987163.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yen, J. Y., Ko, C. H., Yen, C. F., Wu, H. Y., & Yang, M. J. (2007). The comorbid psychiatric symptoms of internet addiction: Attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, social phobia, and hostility. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41(1), 93–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Younes, F., Halawi, G., Jabbour, H., El Osta, N., Karam, L., Hajj, A., & Rabbaa Khabbaz, L. (2016). Internet addiction and relationships with insomnia, anxiety, depression, stress and self-esteem in university students: A cross-sectional designed study. PLoS One, 11(9), e0161126.

    Article  PubMed  PubMed Central  Google Scholar 

  • Young, K. S. (1998). Caught in the net: How to recognize the signs of internet addiction – and a winning strategy for recovery. Wiley.

  • Young, K. S. (2004). Internet addiction – a new clinical phenomenon and its consequences. American Behavioral Scientist, 48(4), 402–415.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Data Availability Statement

The datasets generated and/or analyzed in the current study are not publicly available, as they contain information that can compromise the privacy of research participants. The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Funding

This research is supported by the Zhejiang Federation of Humanities and Social Sciences Circles (Grant number: 2013Z32).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Student Mental Health Counseling Center, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, China

    Wenjie Yang

  2. Department of Social Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan

    Wenjie Yang, Nobuaki Morita, Yasukazu Ogai & Tamaki Saito

  3. Mental Health Education Center for College Students, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hang Zhou, China

    Wenyan Hu

Authors
  1. Wenjie Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Nobuaki Morita
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yasukazu Ogai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Tamaki Saito
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Wenyan Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wenyan Hu.

Ethics declarations

Ethical Approval

All procedures involving human participants are performed in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee, the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments, or comparable ethical standards. This study is approved by the institution where the authors are affiliated.

Conflict of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest regarding this study.

Additional information

Publisher’s Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Yang, W., Morita, N., Ogai, Y. et al. Associations between sense of coherence, psychological distress, escape motivation of internet use, and internet addiction among Chinese college students: A structural equation model. Curr Psychol 42, 9759–9768 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02257-7

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-02257-7

Keywords

Search

Navigation