Loneliness, Depression, and Computer Self-Efficacy as Predictors of Problematic Internet Use

Abstract

This study investigated whether university students' levels of loneliness, depression, and computer self-efficacy were significant predictors of their problematic Internet use levels. The study was carried out with 559 Turkish university students. The research data were analyzed by multiple regression analysis. The findings indicated that loneliness, depression, and computer self-efficacy were significant predictors of problematic Internet use. Loneliness was found as the most important predictive variable. Depression predicted problematic Internet use on the second rank, and computer self-efficacy on the third rank.