Rumination and Internet Addiction Among Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Depression

Internet addiction has become a common problem among adolescents in recent years. However, the underlying factors of adolescent internet addiction have not fully clarified. The current study tested the link between rumination and internet addiction and the mediating role of depression in this relationship. The data were collected from 600 high school students in Turkey (53.2% female,Mage = 16.41, SD = 1.13). The participants completed the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), Ruminative Response Scale-Short Form (RRS-SF), Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale-Revised 10-Item Version for Adolescents (CESDR-10), and a demographic questionnaire. Model tests were completed in a SEM framework. The results indicated that rumination and internet addiction were positively associated, and depression positively and partially mediated the relationship between rumination and internet addiction. Moderation tests by gender were significant. These associations differed by gender, where the direct effect of rumination on internet addiction is significant only for male adolescents, the indirect effect is significant only for female adolescents. Depression has a mediating role in the relationship between rumination and internet addiction only for female adolescents. There is a link between rumination and internet addiction, although gender differences were found. Findings highlight the importance of considering adolescent gender while evaluating the factors that contribute to internet addiction. The results suggest that developing intervention programs to prevent internet addiction by taking into account the effects of depression, rumination, and gender variables may be more beneficial. Findings might help social workers understanding the effects of adolescent mental health on internet addiction.