The Influence of Parenting Style on Internet Addiction in College Students: the Mediating Role of Interpersonal Relationship

Internet addiction has become increasingly prominent and an important factor affecting the mental health of college students. Although many studies have focused on the impact of parenting styles on Internet addiction, the mechanisms of influence have not been fully explored. This study aimed to explore the relationship between parenting styles and Internet addiction in college students and analyze the mediating role of interpersonal relationships. Cross-sectional and quantitative research was conducted and a total of 601 college students were investigated using the Parenting Style Assessment Scale (EMBU), Interpersonal Comprehensive Diagnostic Scale (ICDS) and Revised Chen Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS-R). SPSSAU was used for statistical analysis, including descriptive statistics and inferential statistics. Positive parenting styles were significantly negatively correlated with interpersonal relationship problems and Internet addiction, with correlation coefficients of -0.334 and -0.192, respectively (p < 0.01), and negative parenting styles were positively correlated with interpersonal relationship problem and Internet addiction, with correlation coefficients of 0.341, 0.281 and 0.436, respectively (p < 0.01). The mediation test revealed that interpersonal relationship fully mediated the relationship between positive parenting styles and Internet addiction(effect size=-0.048, LLCI=-0.156, ULCI=-0.076), whereas it partially mediated the relationship between negative parenting styles and Internet addiction(effect size=0.051, LLCI=0.082, ULCI=0.155). Both positive and negative parenting styles were significantly correlated with interpersonal relationship and Internet addiction among college students. Interpersonal relationship plays a completely mediating role in the influence of positive parenting styles on Internet addiction and a partial mediating role in the influence of negative parenting styles on Internet addiction.