Investigating Anxiety and Fear of COVID-19 as Predictors of Internet Addiction With the Mediating Role of Self-Compassion and Cognitive Emotion Regulation

Abstract

BackgroundIn addition to many deaths due to the Coronavirus pandemic, many psychological issues and problems are affecting people's health. Including the constant anxiety and fear of infecting themselves and their families, COVID-19 has led to excessive spending of time in cyberspace and the Internet.MethodsIn this study, the role of fear and anxiety of COVID-19 in predicting Internet addiction among 1,008 students was investigated. The mediating role of the two components of self-compassion and cognitive emotion regulation has also been measured. Data collection was done online due to the outbreak of the disease and a modeling method was used to analyze the data.ResultsThe results shows that anxiety and fear of COVID-19 has a positive and significant relationship with both Internet addiction (r = 0.32) and maladaptive cognitive emotion regulation strategies (r = 0.17), and it has a negative relationship with self-compassion (r = −0.25).ConclusionsThe findings suggest that self-compassion can play a protective role against internet addiction at the time of COVID-19 pandemic while maladaptive strategies for emotion regulation can be risk factors for anxiety and fear of the virus.

The relationship between loneliness and problematic smartphone use among adolescents during the COVID‐19 pandemic: The mediating role of negative emotions and maladaptive coping

“…For example, by investigating different samples using cross‐sectional and longitudinal methods, researchers have found that negative emotions such as depression (Liu & Lu, 2022) and anxiety (Gao et al, 2018) were related to problematic smartphone use. This positive relationship was also confirmed during the COVID‐19 pandemic (Moniri et al, 2022). Direct evidence from experimental studies has also confirmed this positive association (Xiao et al, 2022).…”

An expanded mindful mindset: The role of different skills in stress reduction and life satisfaction

“…It has also been shown to have a beneficial effect on people with addiction. For instance, recent studies have demonstrated that self‐compassion plays a mediating role between anxiety and fear of the coronavirus disease and Internet addiction among 1008 students (Moniri et al, 2022) and promotes well‐being and personal growth among individuals with substance use disorder (Shreffler et al, 2022).…”

“…It empowers people to think contextually and make good judgments based on a comprehensive understanding of the situation. For instance, in addiction management, discernment would mean that one consciously orients the mind with mindfulness skills of awareness, inner calm, and curiosity (Brewer, 2017; Brewer et al, 2011) along with self‐compassion (Bahl & Milne, 2010; Moniri et al, 2022) that helps in taking a step back to investigate the sensations associated with craving arising and dissolving in the body with kindness toward oneself. This approach has been shown to weaken individuals' attachment to smoking (Brewer et al 2011).…”

Prevalence and risk factors for anxiety and depression among community dwelling patients with cervical spondylosis during the COVID-19 pandemic

“…In this study, the median FCV-19S score and prevalence rate was 19 (interquartile interval 15–23) and 59.9%, both being higher than the values of 17.5 (7–35) and 51.1% revealed among caregivers of children with cerebral palsy [ 34 ]. Studies have found that FCV-19S was associated with a lack of resilience, high-frequency use of maladaptive emotion regulation strategies, and impaired quality of life [ 35 , 36 ]. Furthermore, fear to COVID-19 pandemic was documented to predispose to depression and/or anxiety symptoms among both general and clinical population [ [37] , [38] , [39] ].…”