ArticlePLOS digital health2024
Investigating the mediating role of emotional intelligence in the relationship between internet addiction and mental health among university students.
Article in PLOS digital health, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Investigating the mediating roles of psychological resilience and digital addiction in the relationship between emotional intelligence and mental health: a meta-analytic structural equation modeling approach.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Pooled it
- Exploring the Efficacy of Spiritually Integrated Psychological Sessions in Managing Internet Addiction and Other Comorbid Symptoms.Annals of neurosciences · 2026Article
- Pathways from Mindfulness to Career Adaptability: Emotional Intelligence and Psychological Capital as Mediators.European journal of investigation in health, psychology and education · 2026Article
- The relationship between emotional intelligence, internet addiction, and psychological well-being among university nursing students.BMC nursing · 2025Article
- A Multi- Mediation Analysis on the Impact of Social Media and Internet Addiction on University and High School Students' Mental Health Through Social Capital and Mindfulness.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2025Article
- The work engagement and organizational silence among nurses: the mediating role of coworker support.Frontiers in public health · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
introductionThe widespread use of the internet has brought numerous benefits, but it has also raised concerns about its potential negative impact on mental health, particularly among university students. This study aims to investigate the relationship between internet addiction and mental health in university students, as well as explore the mediating effects of emotional intelligence in this relationship.
objectiveThe main objective of this study was to examine whether internet addiction (dimensions and total) negatively predicts the mental health of university students, with emotional intelligence acting as a mediator.
methodsTo address this objective, a cross-sectional design with an inferential approach was employed. Data were collected using the Wong Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS-S), Internet Addiction Scale (IAS), and Keyes' Mental Health Continuum-Short Form (MHC-SF). The total sample consisted of 850 students from two large public higher education institutions in Ethiopia, of which 334 (39.3%) were females and 516 (60.7%) were males, with a mean age of 22.32 (SD = 4.04). For the purpose of the study, the data were split into two randomly selected groups: sample 1 with 300 participants for psychometric testing purposes, and sample 2 with 550 participants for complex mediation purposes. Various analyses were conducted to achieve the stated objectives, including Cronbach's alpha and composite reliabilities, bivariate correlation, discriminant validity, common method biases, measurement invariance, and structural equation modeling (confirmatory factor analysis, path analysis, and mediation analysis). Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to assess the construct validity of the WLEIS-S, IAS, and MHC-SF. Additionally, a mediating model was examined using structural equation modeling with the corrected biased bootstrap method.
resultsThe results revealed that internet addiction had a negative and direct effect on emotional intelligence (β = -0.180, 95%CI [-0.257, -0.103], p = 0.001) and mental health (β = -0.204, 95%CI [-0.273, -0.134], p = 0.001). Also, Internet Craving and Internet obsession negatively predicted EI (β = -0.324, 95%CI [-0.423, -0.224], p = 0.002) and MH (β = -0.167, 95%CI [-0.260, -0.069], p = 0.009), respectively. However, EI had a significant and positive direct effect on mental health (β = 0.494, 95%CI [0.390, 0.589], p = 0.001). Finally, EI fully mediated the relationship between internet addiction and mental health (β = -0.089, 95%CI [-0.136, -0.049], p = 0.001). Besides The study also confirmed that all the scales had strong internal consistency and good psychometric properties.
conclusionThis study contributes to a better understanding of the complex interplay between internet addiction, emotional intelligence, and mental health among university students. The findings highlight the detrimental effects of internet addiction on mental health, and the crucial mediating role of emotional intelligence. RECOMMENDATIONS: The findings discussed in relation to recent literature have practical implications for practitioners and researchers aiming to enhance mental health and reduce internet addiction among university students. Emotional intelligence can be utilized as a positive resource in interventions and programs targeting these issues.
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.