Psychology: Techniques and Application ›› 2025, Vol. 13 ›› Issue (9): 524-532.

Previous Articles     Next Articles

The Relationship Between Maladaptive Cognition of Internet Use and Internalizing/Externalizing Problems Among College Students:
The Mediating Role of Upward Social Comparison

  

  1. Tian Jiabing College of Education, China Three Gorges University;Enshi No.2 Middle School
  • Accepted:2025-07-22 Online:2025-08-25 Published:2025-08-25

Abstract:

To explore the relationship and underlying mechanisms between maladaptive cognition of internet use, upward social comparison, and internalizing/externalizing problems (such as anxiety, depression, and aggression) among college students, we conducted a survey with 471 college students from a university in Hubei Province, using the Questionnaire of Maladaptive Cognition in Internet Use, the Iowa-Netherlands Comparison Orientation Measure, the Depression Anxiety Stress Scale (focusing on the anxiety and depression subscales), and the Aggression Questionnaire. The results indicated that maladaptive cognition of internet use were significantly positively correlated with upward social comparison, anxiety, depression, and aggression. Furthermore, upward social comparison mediated the relationship between maladaptive cognition of internet use and both anxiety and depression. These findings provide strategic guidance for the prevention and intervention of internalizing and externalizing problems among college students from the
perspective of internet use.

Key words:

CLC Number: 

  • B844
[1] XIE Zezhen, SUN Kangxu, JIN Yunxin, WANG Kexin, REN Yanju.
The Inhibitory Effect of Expressive Writing on Choking Under Pressure Among Collegiate Athletes
[J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2025, 13(9): 533-543.
[2] GAO Hongmei, LI Manman, MA Hongshuang.
Relationship Between Negative Life Events and Meaning in Life Among College Students: The Role of Social Anxiety and Belief in a Just World
[J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2025, 13(8): 477-485.
[3] .
The Relationship Between Freshmen's Body Image Self-Discrepancy and Social Media Use Motivation: The Perspective of Online Social Compensation
[J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2025, 13(4): 226-235.
[4] .
The Association between Loneliness and Physical Health-Related Quality of Life in Older Adults: A Longitudinal Study
[J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2025, 13(1): 9-17.
[5] ZOU Jiayue, LI Wei, ZHANG Shuyue, HE Qinghua. The Protective Effect of Meaning in Life on Mental Health of College Students during COVID-19:A Longitudinal Follow-up Study [J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2024, 12(6): 321-332.
[6] OUYANG Jingwen, ZHOU Chunyan, LI Lin, HUANG Hai, LIU Chenling. Adverse Childhood Experiences and Adolescents’ Depression: A Moderated Mediation Model [J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2024, 12(1): 20-31.
[7] ZHANG Di, CHEN Zhi Rou, LIU Xu. The Relationship Between Rumination and Cognitive Failure in College Students: The Mediating Role of Depression [J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2023, 11(8): 484-491.
[8] SUN Fenfen, CHEN Yue, HUANG Yingwen, YAN Jing. The Relationship between Negative Life Events and Depression in Junior High School Students: A Moderated Mediation Model [J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2023, 11(7): 421-429.
[9] LIU Qiongxiang, SUN Bin, YUAN Caihong, ZHOU Wenqi, ZHOU Chunyan, LIU Chenling. Revision of the Self-Stigma of Depression Scale among Chinese College Students [J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2023, 11(12): 747-755.
[10] Li Yatong, ZHANG Lina, BAI Jingjing, DING Xiaobin. Emotional Inertia and Rumination in Depression [J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2022, 10(9): 543-552.
[11] YIN Yunhang, CHEN Danyun, CHEN Zhangqi, LI Yali , ZHANG Jinjin, WANG Yuchun. The Relationship Between Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Creativity Tendencies: A longitudinal Study among College Freshmen [J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2022, 10(9): 513-521.
[12] DAI Wenwu, LI Zhaolan, JIA Ning. The Relationship between Childhood Psychological Maltreatment and College Students’ Depression: The Mediating Role of Intrusive Rumination and The Moderating Effect of Connectedness to Nature [J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2022, 10(6): 341-349,359.
[13] WEI Xiaowei, LI Qiang, ZHAI Hongkun, ZHOU Yanbang, LU fan. The Influence of Social and Psychological Factors on Postpartum Depression: from Perspective of Cognitive Behavioral Model of Postpartum Depression [J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2022, 10(6): 330-340.
[14] ZHENG Mengyi, DONG Qianqian. Computerized Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chinese International Students' Depression and Anxiety [J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2022, 10(5): 286-295.
[15] XIAN Hua, ZHAO Yufang. Autonomous Orientation Buffers Death Anxiety Aroused by COVID-19 Epidemic [J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2022, 10(12): 740-747, 754.
Viewed
Full text


Abstract

Cited

  Shared   
  Discussed   
[1] XIN Ziqiang, ZHANG Hongchuan, SUN Ling, YU Yonghong, XIN Zhiyong. The Definition and Triarchic Structure of Financial Literacy[J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2018, 6(8): 450 -458 .
[2] ZHANG Hongchuan, SU Song, LV Jieyu, ZHANG Mei, XIN Ziqiang. Financial Capacity Based on the Rational Decision-Making View: Concept, Construct and Measurement [J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2018, 6(8): 465 -471 .
[3] . [J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2018, 6(10): 599 .
[4] PAN Chaochao, ZHOU Aibao, LIU Jintao, XIE Pei. Study on Attentional Bias of Emotional Faces in Emotion Induced Situations[J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2018, 6(10): 600 -605 .
[5] . The Relationship between Attitudes toward Agingin Older Adults and Cognitive Aging[J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2016, 4(6): 336 -343 .
[6] . Relationship Between College Students Online Social Support, Selfesteem and Cyberbullying[J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2016, 4(6): 349 -355 .
[7] . Effects of Ordered Pictures on Trust[J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2016, 4(7): 385 -388 .
[8] . The Motivation of Using Social Network Has an Impact on the College Students Motion[J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2016, 4(7): 399 -403 .
[9] . Effect of Negative Perfectionism on Social Anxiety: Mediation Effects of Intolerance of Uncertainty and Selfesteem[J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2016, 4(7): 404 -409 .
[10] . The Effect of Subjective Social Class on Altruistic Behavior and Sense of Control[J]. Psychology: Techniques and Application, 2016, 4(7): 422 -427 .