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Maladaptive Perfectionism and Internet Addiction among Chinese College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model of Depression and Gender

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  • Wenjie Yang

    (The Mental Health Center, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China
    Department of Social Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 3050006, Japan)

  • Nobuaki Morita

    (Department of Social Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 3050006, Japan)

  • Zhijuan Zuo

    (The Mental Health Center, Yunnan University, Kunming 650091, China)

  • Kyoko Kawaida

    (Department of Social Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 3050006, Japan)

  • Yasukazu Ogai

    (Department of Social Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 3050006, Japan)

  • Tamaki Saito

    (Department of Social Psychiatry and Mental Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 3050006, Japan)

  • Wenyan Hu

    (Mental Health Education Center for College Students, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China)

Abstract

The association between perfectionism and addictive behaviors has been examined in previous literature; however, few pieces of research have investigated the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relationship. Using a sample of 2016 Chinese college students, the present study examined the mediator of depression between maladaptive perfectionism and Internet addiction and the moderator of gender in such associations. The findings indicated that maladaptive perfectionism was directly related to students’ Internet addiction and indirectly predicted students’ Internet addiction via the mediator of depression. Gender moderated the direct effect, rather than the indirect effect, of maladaptive perfectionism on Internet addiction. Even though males reported a lower score on Internet addiction compared to females, the effect of maladaptive perfectionism on Internet addiction was stronger for males than for females. These findings revealed the psychological mechanisms from perfectionism to Internet addiction, which contributed to the theoretical development in addiction research and provided implications for interventions to reduce Internet addiction among Chinese college students.

Suggested Citation

  • Wenjie Yang & Nobuaki Morita & Zhijuan Zuo & Kyoko Kawaida & Yasukazu Ogai & Tamaki Saito & Wenyan Hu, 2021. "Maladaptive Perfectionism and Internet Addiction among Chinese College Students: A Moderated Mediation Model of Depression and Gender," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-13, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2748-:d:513205
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Silvia Melero & Alexandra Morales & José Pedro Espada & Iván Fernández-Martínez & Mireia Orgilés, 2020. "How Does Perfectionism Influence the Development of Psychological Strengths and Difficulties in Children?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-15, June.
    2. Bernadette Kun & Róbert Urbán & Beáta Bőthe & Mark D. Griffiths & Zsolt Demetrovics & Gyöngyi Kökönyei, 2020. "Maladaptive Rumination Mediates the Relationship between Self-Esteem, Perfectionism, and Work Addiction: A Largescale Survey Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-17, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hsien-Yuan Lane & Chin-Jui Chang & Chieh-Liang Huang & Yun-Hsuan Chang, 2021. "An Investigation into Smartphone Addiction with Personality and Sleep Quality among University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(14), pages 1-14, July.
    2. Cecilia M. S. Ma, 2022. "Relationships between Social Networking Sites Use and Self-Esteem: The Moderating Role of Gender," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-11, September.
    3. Katarzyna Tomaszek & Agnieszka Muchacka-Cymerman, 2021. "Be Aware of Burnout! The Role of Changes in Academic Burnout in Problematic Facebook Usage among University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-16, July.
    4. Wenjie Yang & Wenyan Hu & Nobuaki Morita & Yasukazu Ogai & Tamaki Saito & Yan Wei, 2022. "Impact of Short-Term Intensive-Type Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Intervention on Internet Addiction among Chinese College Students: A Randomized Controlled Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-16, April.

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