Parental rejection, best-friend rejection, and self-compassion as predictors of internet addiction during the COVID-19 pandemic

Abstract

The aim of this study was to examine whether maternal, paternal, best-friend rejection and self-compassion predict internet addiction among university students considering two different life conditions: before Covid-19 and during COVID-19. The sample of the study consisted of 364 university students; 270 females and 94 males, with mean ages of 21.52 and 21.81, respectively. Demographic Information Form, Young’s Internet Addiction Test-Short Form, Adult Parental Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire Mother and Father Short Forms, Best-Friend Acceptance-Rejection Questionnaire-Short Form, and Self-Compassion Scale were utilized for data collection and multiple regression was used for data analysis. The findings indicated that maternal rejection (before COVID-19: ß = .35, p < .001; During COVID-19: ß = .38, p < .001) and self-compassion (before COVID-19: ß = -.28, p < .05; during COVID-19: ß = -.36, p < .001) were significant predictors of internet addiction in males, whereas only self-compassion (before COVID-19: ß = -.25, p < .001; During COVID -19: ß = -.30, p < .001) was a significant predictor of internet addiction in females. Therefore, gender should be considered when working with people who tend to develop internet addiction. It is also concluded that providing preventive strategies based on self-compassion and relationships with mothers may protect university students from internet addiction and its harmful consequences.