Predictiveness of interpersonal cognitive distortions on university students' problematic Internet use

Objective: This study examines correlation between problematic Internet use and interpersonal cognitive distortions among university students. Methods: This study was conducted among 351 students from the Ondokuz Mayis University Faculty of Education. The Online Cognition Scale and Interpersonal Cognitive Distortions Scale were employed in the collection of data. Results: Pearson correlation analysis results reveal a significant positive correlation between problematic Internet use and interpersonal rejection (r=0.249. p<0.01), and unrealistic relationship expectation (r=0.278, p<0.01). Simple linear regression analysis in which the problematic Internet use scores were predicted from interpersonal cognitive distortions was conducted. Interpersonal rejection (R-2=0.062, t=4.809, p<0.000) and unrealistic relationship expectation (R-2=0.077, t=5.398, p<0.000) predicted significantly university students' problematic Internet use. Conclusions: Interpersonal cognitive distortions emerged as a significant predictor of problematic Internet usage. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.