Role of perceived social support as a predictor of internet addiction with the mediating effect of life satisfaction among international students in China

Abstract

In the experience of studying abroad the only thing which keeps students connected with
their family and friends is the internet, but relying mostly on it further leads to internet addiction. The
current study is an attempt to navigate the mediating effect of life satisfaction and the role of
perceived social support as a predictor of internet addiction through moderator ethnicity condition
1African, 2South Asian foreign learners in Xian, China for at least six months. Questionnaire protocol
comprises of demographics and The Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) to
quantify (PSS), Satisfaction with life scale to measure (LS), Problematic and risky internet use scale
(PRIU) to assess internet addiction of the participants. Findings revealed (a)significant relationship
between perceived social support and life satisfaction and (b)significant negative association between
life satisfaction and internet addiction. Furthermore, moderation mediation analysis discloses that
there is a direct effect of PPS to IA, and the indirect effect of PSS to IA through LS for both conditions
of ethnicity (1African, 2South Asian). Overall, these findings highlighted implications on international
student's internet addiction