Anhedonia mediates the link between problematic internet use and psychological well-being

Numerous studies have examined the causes and harms of problematic Internet use (PIU). However, less is known about whether and how PIU influences the users’ psychological well-being (PWB). To address these concerns, the study explores the impact of PIU on PWB with a special focus on the potential mediating role of anhedonia, which is a negative and core characteristic of depression. A total of 434 participants from two universities completed the questionnaires, which included the Internet Game Cognitive-Addiction (IGCA), Temporal Experience of Pleasure (TEP), and the PWB scales. Data were analyzed with structural equation modeling methods. Results show that PIU has a negative impact on PWB as assessed by the PWB scale, whereas anhedonia as measured by the TEP is a key mediator for explaining this relationship. Potential implications of the major findings are discussed.