The Relationship Between Self-Efficacy and Internet Addiction Among College Students: Mediating Role of Basic Psychological Needs and Self-Control

Internet addiction among college students is closely associated with individual traits. Although previous studies have examined the impact of self-efficacy on Internet addiction, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigates how self-efficacy influences Internet addiction. Specifically, it examined the mediating roles of basic psychological needs and self-control in this relationship. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 547 college students in China. The results revealed the following: (1) Self-efficacy significantly and negatively predicted Internet addiction among college students. (2) Self-efficacy reduces Internet addiction both directly and indirectly by enhancing basic psychological needs. (3) There is a specific chain-mediated pathway: Self-efficacy increases basic psychological needs satisfaction (BPNS), which improves self-control. This improvement in self-control further reduces internet addiction. This chain-mediated pathway fully accounts for the indirect effect of self-efficacy on Internet addiction. Consequently, self-efficacy mitigates Internet addiction through indirect effects mediated by basic psychological needs and self-control.