The Structural Relationship Model of Cyberspace Addiction and Rejection Sensitivity: Examining the Mediating Role of Emotional Self-Efficacy
Keywords:
cyberspace addiction, rejection sensitivity, emotional self-efficacy, structural equation modelingAbstract
The present study aimed to examine the structural relationship between rejection sensitivity and cyberspace addiction, with an emphasis on the mediating role of emotional self-efficacy. In terms of purpose, this was a basic research study, and in terms of methodology, it employed a descriptive-correlational design. The statistical population consisted of students at the University of Mohaghegh Ardabili during the 2024–2025 academic year. Based on the number of parameters in the hypothesized model, 300 students were selected through cluster random sampling. Data were collected using the Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998), the Emotional Self-Efficacy Scale (Beverley et al., 1997), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995), and the Rejection Sensitivity Questionnaire (Downey & Feldman, 1996). Structural equation modeling was performed using SPSS version 24 and AMOS version 24. The results showed that rejection sensitivity had a significant positive direct effect on internet addiction. Emotional self-efficacy also had a negative direct effect on internet addiction and partially mediated the relationship between rejection sensitivity and internet addiction. The model fit indices (GFI = .96, RMSEA = .075) indicated that the proposed model had an acceptable fit to the data.
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