Reassurance-seeking in Internet: A prospective study of path to depression and Internet addiction
Date Issued
2016
Date
2016
Author(s)
Hsieh, Chia-Ying
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have demonstrated that depression is the most frequently reported psychiatric symptom comorbid with Internet addiction. However, these studies were mostly with cross-sectional design and insufficient to clarify the temporal sequence of the psychopathology of these two problems. Hence, the current study aimed to examine the path from depression to Internet addiction with a prospective design. With respect to progress in technology science, interpersonal activities in Internet become more popular and indispensable in people’s lives. An alternative interpersonal approach is necessary to understand the development of depression and Internet addiction in this digital era. The current study explored whether reassurance-seeking style, an interpersonal tendency for eliciting other’s rejection and deteriorating depressive symptoms proposed by Joiner, Alfano, and Metalsky (1992) conjoining Coyne’s (1976b) interpersonal model of depression, may serve as a common risk factor for the development of depression and Internet addiction. Moreover, this study further tested the mediation role of offline/online reassurance-seeking outcomes in the path to depression and Internet addiction. METHOD: We recruited a valid sample of 181 adults (43.1% Male, 56.9% Female, age range = 20-39 years old) via web advertisement. At Time 1 (T1), participants were asked to fill out the Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), and Chinese Reassurance-Seeking Scale (CRSS). At Time2 (T2, 4 weeks later), the CIAS, BDI-II, and Offline/online Reassurance-Seeking Scale were assessed. RESULTS: 1) After controlling T1 Internet addiction symptoms, T1 depressive symptoms still significantly predicted T2 Internet addiction symptoms. 2) Reassurance-seeking style significantly predicted T2 Internet addiction symptoms, and such correlation was moderated by T1 depressive symptoms. 3) T1 Internet addiction symptoms moderated the relationship between reassurance-seeking style and offline/online reassurance-seeking outcomes respectively, while T1 depressive symptoms did not serve as a moderator. 4) Offline/online reassurance-seeking outcomes mediated the relationship of reassurance-seeking style and T2 depressive as well as Internet addiction symptoms. 5) The model of path to depression and Internet addiction was partially supported. In specific, offline/online reassurance-seeking outcomes could not predict the followed-up symptoms while taking initial symptoms into account. DISCUSSION: Based on the above findings, the interpersonal process of reassurance seeking was discussed to elucidate the development of depression and Internet addiction. Finally, applications, clinical implications, limitations and future directions of the study were further addressed.
Subjects
Internet addiction
depression
comorbidity
reassurance-seeking
interpersonal model
Type
thesis
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