Internet Attitudes and Behavior Survey

Psychological research on internet addiction (IA) has investigated its effects with relation to a variety of mental health concerns (e.g., depression, anxiety, and general psychological dysfunction). Analysis of internet sub-activities (e.g., social media and pornography) on an individual basis has also been correlated with various mental health concerns. However, there is a general lack of research on social alienation as a potential risk factor for individuals using the internet as a coping mechanism for their potential mental health issues. The current study used a survey-based questionnaire to explore attitudes and behaviors related to internet usage, internet sub-activities, and the role of internet use as a coping mechanism for individuals who may be struggling specifically with depression, anxiety, and feelings of social alienation. This poster will present results of statistical analyses that (1) replicate what is known from the existing literature, (2) confirm the role of social alienation in IA, and (3) estimate the size of the effect of social alienation relative to other factors so that future studies of IA can take that into account