.2019 Sep 3;16(17):3225.

doi: 10.3390/ijerph16173225.

Relationship between Self-Identity Confusion and Internet Addiction among College Students: The Mediating Effects of Psychological Inflexibility and Experiential Avoidance

Kuan-Ying Hsieh^{1 2}, Ray C Hsiao^{3 4}, Yi-Hsin Yang^{5 6}, Kun-Hua Lee⁷, Cheng-Fang Yen^{8 9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Kai-Syuan Psychiatric Hospital, Kaohsiung 80276, Taiwan. isanrra@gmail.com.
² Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan. isanrra@gmail.com.
³ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. rhsiao@u.washington.edu.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. rhsiao@u.washington.edu.
⁵ Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan. yihsya@kmu.edu.tw.
⁶ School of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan. yihsya@kmu.edu.tw.
⁷ Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Tsing Hua University, Hsin-Chu City 30013, Taiwan. kunhualee627@gmail.com.
⁸ Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan. chfaye@cc.kmu.edu.tw.
⁹ Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan. chfaye@cc.kmu.edu.tw.

PMID:31484435
PMCID: PMC6747481
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16173225

Relationship between Self-Identity Confusion and Internet Addiction among College Students: The Mediating Effects of Psychological Inflexibility and Experiential Avoidance

Kuan-Ying Hsieh et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health.2019.

.2019 Sep 3;16(17):3225.

doi: 10.3390/ijerph16173225.

Authors

Kuan-Ying Hsieh^{1 2}, Ray C Hsiao^{3 4}, Yi-Hsin Yang^{5 6}, Kun-Hua Lee⁷, Cheng-Fang Yen^{8 9}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Municipal Kai-Syuan Psychiatric Hospital, Kaohsiung 80276, Taiwan. isanrra@gmail.com.
² Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan. isanrra@gmail.com.
³ Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. rhsiao@u.washington.edu.
⁴ Department of Psychiatry, Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA. rhsiao@u.washington.edu.
⁵ Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan. yihsya@kmu.edu.tw.
⁶ School of Pharmacy, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan. yihsya@kmu.edu.tw.
⁷ Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, National Tsing Hua University, Hsin-Chu City 30013, Taiwan. kunhualee627@gmail.com.
⁸ Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan. chfaye@cc.kmu.edu.tw.
⁹ Department of Psychiatry, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan. chfaye@cc.kmu.edu.tw.

PMID:31484435
PMCID: PMC6747481
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16173225

Abstract

Internet addiction (IA) has become a major public health problem among college students. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between self-identity confusion and IA and the mediating effects of psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance (PI/EA) indicators in college students. A total of 500 college students (262 women and 238 men) were recruited. Their levels of self-identity were evaluated using the Self-Concept and Identity Measure. Their levels of PI/EA were examined using the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire-II. The severity of IA was assessed using the Chen Internet Addiction Scale. The relationships among self- identity, PI/EA, and IA were examined using structural equation modeling. The severity of self-identity confusion was positively associated with both the severity of PI/EA and the severity of IA. In addition, the severity of PI/EA indicators was positively associated with the severity of IA. These results demonstrated that the severity of self-identity confusion was related to the severity of IA, either directly or indirectly. The indirect relationship was mediated by the severity of PI/EA. Self-identity confusion and PI/EA should be taken into consideration by the community of professionals working on IA. Early detection and intervention of self-identity confusion and PI/EA should be the objectives for programs aiming to lower the risk of IA.

Keywords: EA; PI; internet addiction; self-identity.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

**Figure 1**
Hypothesized model of the associations among self-identity confusion, Internet addiction, and psychological inflexibility and experiential avoidance (PI/EA).

**Figure 2**
The estimated coefficients of the paths in the hypothesized model for the relationships among self-identity confusion, Internet addiction, and PI/EA. (*p < 0.05; **p < 0.01).

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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Relationship between Self-Identity Confusion and Internet Addiction among College Students: The Mediating Effects of Psychological Inflexibility and Experiential Avoidance

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Relationship between Self-Identity Confusion and Internet Addiction among College Students: The Mediating Effects of Psychological Inflexibility and Experiential Avoidance

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Conflict of interest statement

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