The Mediating Role of Coping with Stress in Problematic Internet Use and Cognitive Flexibility Relation

Year 2022, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 314 - 327, 30.09.2022

Ahmet Erdem

Abstract

Keywords

Problematic Internet Use, Cognitive Flexibility, Coping with Stress., Problematic Internet Use, Cognitive Flexibility, Coping with Stress.

The Mediating Role of Coping with Stress in Problematic Internet Use and Cognitive Flexibility Relation

Abstract

Cognitive flexibility is a term encompassing three basic domains and meaning the ability to adjust individuals’ cognition depending on varying circumstances. Problematic internet use may be related to psychological structures. In addition, studies have shown that the internet is both a stress-making tool and a safe haven in which individuals can seek to cope with stress. Taken all together, the purpose of the study was to observe the mediating role of coping with stress in the relationship between problematic internet use and cognitive flexibility. Chosen by convenient sampling, the participants were 706 volunteered secondary school pupils from Turkey. All data were collected with Cognitive Flexibility Scale, Strategies for Coping with Stress Scale and Young Internet Addiction Test-Short Form. As the study results revealed, problematic internet use had a negative significant effect on cognitive flexibility without the inclusion of strategies for coping with stress. Accordingly, the prediction effect of problematic internet use on cognitive flexibility became non-significant after the inclusion of strategies for coping with stress.

Keywords

Problematic Internet Use, Cognitive Flexibility, Coping with Stress., Problematic Internet Use, Cognitive Flexibility, Coping with Stress.

References

• Aery, A. (2019). Cognitive Emotion Regulation and Resilience [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Adler University.
• Anderson, E. L., Steen, E., & Stavropoulos, V. (2017). Internet use and problematic internet use: A systematic review of longitudinal research trends in adolescence and emergent adulthood. International Journal of Adolescence and Youth, 22(4), 430-454. 10.1080/02673843.2016.1227716
• Arısoy Ö. (2009). İnternet Bağımlılığı ve Tedavisi. Psikiyatride Güncel Yaklaşımlar - Current Approaches in Psychiatry. 1(1), 55-67.
• Aydın, H. (2008). Ergenlerin kişilik özelliklerinin stresle başa çıkma ve bazı özlük niteliklerine göre karşılaştırmalı olarak incelenmesi [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Selçuk Üniversitesi.
• Bakken, I. J., Wenzel, H. G., Götestam, K. G., Johansson, A., & Øren, A. (2009). Internet addiction among Norwegian adults: A stratified probability sample study. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology, 50(2), 121-127. 10.1111/j.1467-9450.2008.00685.x
• Bedel, A., & Ulubey, E. (2015). The role of cognitive flexibility on explanation adolescents coping strategies. Electronic Journal of Social Sciences, 14(55), 291-300.
• Berber Çelik, Ç., Odacı, H., & Bayraktar, N. (2015). Is problematic internet use an indicator of eating disorders among Turkish university students?. Eating and Weight Disorders-Studies on Anorexia, Bulimia and Obesity, 20(2), 167-172. 10.1007/s40519-014-0150-3
• Cao, F., & Su, L. (2007). Internet addiction among Chinese adolescents: Prevalence and psychological features. Child: Care, Health and Development, 33(3), 275-281. 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2006.00715.x
• Caplan, S. E. (2006). Relations among loneliness, social anxiety, and problematic Internet use. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(2), 234-242. 10.1089/cpb.2006.9963
• Chou, C., Condron, L., & Belland, J. C. (2005). A review of the research on Internet addiction. Educational Psychology Review, 17(4), 363-388.
• Ciarrochi, J., Parker, P., Sahdra, B., Marshall, S., Jackson, C., Gloster, A. T., & Heaven, P. (2016). The development of compulsive Internet use and mental health: A four-year study of adolescence. Developmental Psychology, 52, 271–283. 10.1037/dev0000070
• Crone, E. A., Richard Ridderinkhof, K., Worm, M., Somsen, R. J., & Van Der Molen, M. W. (2004). Switching between spatial stimulus–response mappings: a developmental study of cognitive flexibility. Developmental Science, 7(4), 443-455. 10.1111/j.1467-7687.2004.00365.x
• Csikszentmihalyi, M. (1990). Flow. The Psychology of Optimal Experience. New York Harper Perennial.
• Çelikkaleli, Ö. (2014). Bilişsel esneklik ölçeğinin geçerlik ve güvenirliği. Eğitim ve Bilim, 39(176), 339-346. 10.15390/EB.2014.3466
• Çuhadaroğlu, A. (2011). Bilişsel esnekliğin yordayıcıları. [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Ankara Üniversitesi, Eğitim Bilimleri Enstitüsü.
• Davis, R. A. (2001). A cognitive-behavioral model of pathological Internet use. Computers in Human Behavior, 17(2), 187-195. 10.1016/S0747-5632(00)00041-8
• Dennis, J. P., & Vander Wal, J. S. (2010). The cognitive flexibility inventory: Instrument development and estimates of reliability and validity. Cognitive Therapy and Research, 34(3), 241-253. 10.1007/s10608-009-9276-4
• Dong, G., Devito, E. E., Du, X., & Cui, Z. (2012). Impaired inhibitory control in ‘internet addiction disorder’: a functional magnetic resonance imaging study. Psychiatry Research: Neuroimaging, 203(2-3), 153-158. 10.1016/j.pscychresns.2012.02.001
• Dong, G., Hu, Y., Lin, X., & Lu, Q. (2013). What makes Internet addicts continue playing online even when faced by severe negative consequences? Possible explanations from an fMRI study. Biological Psychology, 94(2), 282-289. 10.1016/j.biopsycho.2013.07.009
• Dong, G., Lin, X., Zhou, H., & Lu, Q. (2014). Cognitive flexibility in internet addicts: fMRI evidence from difficult-to-easy and easy-to-difficult switching situations. Addictive Behaviors, 39(3), 677-683. 10.1016/j.addbeh.2013.11.028
• Dong, G., Lu, Q., Zhou, H., & Zhao, X. (2011). Precursor or sequela: pathological disorders in people with Internet addiction disorder. PloS One, 6(2), e14703. 10.1371/journal.pone.0014703
• Dong, G., Shen, Y., Huang, J., & Du, X. (2013). Impaired error-monitoring function in people with internet addiction disorder: an event-related fMRI study. European Addiction Research, 19(5), 269-275. 10.1159/000346783
• Dong, G., Zhou, H., & Zhao, X. (2011). Male internet addicts show impaired executive control ability: evidence from a color–word Stroop task. Neuroscience Letters, 499, 114–118. 10.1016/j.neulet.2011.05.047
• Ellis, B. J., Bianchi, J., Griskevicius, V., Frankenhuis, W. E. (2018). Beyond risk and protective factors: An adaptation-based approach to resilience. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 12, 561-587. 10.1177/1745691617693054
• Farquharson, B., Allan, J., Johnston, D., Johnston, M., Choudhary, C., & Jones, M. (2012). Stress amongst nurses working in a healthcare telephone‐advice service: Relationship with job satisfaction, intention to leave, sickness absence, and performance. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 68(7), 1624-1635. 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2012.06006.x
• Gess, L. J. (2001). Self-Esteem, coping, and social support as moderators of the relation between executive functions and high risk behavior among urban, african american adolescent girls. [Unpublished doctoral dissertation]. Georgia State University, ABD.
• Ha, J. H., Kim, S. Y., Bae, S. C., Bae, S., Kim, H., Sim, M., ... & Cho, S. C. (2007). Depression and Internet addiction in adolescents. Psychopathology, 40(6), 424-430. 10.1159/000107426
• Hampshire, A., & Owen, A. M. (2006). Fractionating attentional control using event-related fMRI. Cerebral
• Cortex, 16(12), 1679-1689. 10.1093/cercor/bhj116 Hong, S. B., Zalesky, A., Cocchi, L., Fornito, A., Choi, E. J., Kim, H. H., Suh, J. E., Kim, C. D., Kim, J. W., & Yi, S. H. (2013). Decreased functional brain connectivity in adolescents with internet addiction. PLoS One, 8, e57831. 10.1371/journal.pone.0057831
• Hu, L. T., & Bentler, P. M. (1999). Cutoff criteria for fit indexes in covariance structure analysis: Conventional criteria versus new alternatives. Structural Equation Modeling: A Multidisciplinary Journal, 6(1), 1-55. 10.1080/10705519909540118
• Internetworldstats (2016). Internet Usage Statistics – The Internet Big Picture. Available online at: www.internetworldstats.com/stats.htm.
• Johnson, B.T. (2016). The relationship between cognitive flexibility, coping, and symptomatology in psychotherapy. [Unpublished master thesis]. Marquette University. Faculty of the Graduate School. Milwaukee, Wisconsin. ABD.
• Kandell, J. J. (1998). Internet addiction on campus: The vulnerability of college students. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 1(1), 11-17. 10.1089/cpb.1998.1.11
• Kim, K., Ryu, E., Chon, M. Y., Yeun, E. J., Choi, S. Y., Seo, J. S., & Nam, B. W. (2006). Internet addiction in Korean adolescents and its relation to depression and suicidal ideation: a questionnaire survey. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 43(2), 185-192. 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2005.02.005
• Kömür, B. (2018). Üniversite öğrencilerinde bilişsel esneklik ile stresle başa çıkma becerileri arasındaki ilişkinin araştırılması. [Unpublished master thesis]. Üsküdar Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü.
• Krpan, K. M., Levine, B., Stuss, D. T., & Dawson, D. R. (2007). Executive function and coping at one-year post traumatic brain injury. Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 29(1), 36-46. 10.1080/13803390500376816
• Kutlu, M., Savcı, M., Demir, Y., & Aysan, F. (2016). Young İnternet Bağımlılığı Testi Kısa Formunun Türkçe uyarlaması: Üniversite öğrencileri ve ergenlerde geçerlilik ve güvenilirlik çalışması. Anadolu Psikiyatri Dergisi, 17(1), 69-76. 10.5455/apd.190501
• Kwon, J. H. (2011). Toward the prevention of adolescent Internet addiction. Internet Addiction: A Handbook and Guide to Evaluation and Treatment, 223-243.
• Laçin, B. G. D., & Yalçın, İ. (2018). Üniversite öğrencilerinde öz-yeterlilik ve stresle başa çıkma stratejilerinin bilişsel esnekliği yordama düzeyleri. Hacettepe Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 34(2), 358-371.
• Lee, H. W., Choi, J. S., Shin, Y. C., Lee, J. Y., Jung, H. Y., & Kwon, J. S. (2012). Impulsivity in internet addiction: A comparison with pathological gambling. Cyberpsychology, Behavior and Social Networking, 15, 373–377. 10.1089/cyber.2012.0063
• Lee, Y. S., Han, D. H., Yang, K. C., Daniels, M. A., Na, C., Kee, B. S., & Renshaw, P. F. (2008). Depression like characteristics of 5HTTLPR polymorphism and temperament in excessive internet users. Journal of Affective Disorders, 109(1-2), 165-169. 10.1016/j.jad.2007.10.020
• Lee, K. E., Kim, S. H., Ha, T. Y., Yoo, Y. M., Han, J. J., Jung, J. H., & Jang, J. Y. (2016). Dependency on smartphone use and its association with anxiety in Korea. Public Health Reports, 131(3), 411-419. 10.1177/003335491613100307
• Lee, M. S., Oh, E. Y., Cho, S. M., Hong, M. J., & Moon, J. S. (2001). An assessment of adolescent Internet addiction problems related to depression, social anxiety and peer relationship. Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association, 616-628.
• Lei, L., & Wu, Y. (2007). Adolescents' paternal attachment and Internet use. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(5), 633-639. 10.1089/cpb.2007.9976
• Leung, L. (2006). Stressful life events, motives for Internet use, and social support among digital kids. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 10(2), 204-214. 10.1089/cpb.2006.9967
• Li, H., & Lei, L. (2005). The relationship of coping styles and pathological Internet use of middle school students. Acta Psychologica Sinica, 37, 87–91. https://journal.psych.ac.cn/acps/EN/Y2005/V37/I01/87
• Li, H., Wang, J., & Wang, L. (2009). A survey on the generalized problematic Internet use in Chinese college students and its relations to stressful life events and coping style. International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction, 7(2), 333-346. 10.1007/s11469-008-9162-4
• Lin, F., Zhou, Y., Du, Y., Qin, L., Zhao, Z., Xu, J., et al. (2012). Abnormal white matter integrity in adolescents with internet addiction disorder: A tract-based spatial statistics study. PLoS One, 7, e30253. 10.1371/journal.pone.0030253
• Little, T. D., Cunningham, W. A., Shahar, G., & Widaman, K. F. (2002). To parcel or not to parcel: Exploring the question, weighing the merits. Structural Equation Modeling, 9(2), 151-173. 10.1207/S15328007SEM0902_1
• Logan, G. D., & Gordon, R. D. (2001). Executive control of visual attention in dual-task situations. Psychological Review, 108(2), 393. 10.1037/0033-295X.108.2.393
• Loose, R., Kaufmann, C., Tucha, O., Auer, D. P., & Lange, K. W. (2006). Neural networks of response shifting: influence of task speed and stimulus material. Brain Research, 1090(1), 146-155. 10.1016/j.brainres.2006.03.039
• MacCallum, R. C., Browne, M. W., & Sugawara, H. M. (1996). Power analysis and determination of sample size for covariance structure modeling. Psychological Methods, 1(2), 130.
• MacKinnon, D. P., Cheong, J., & Pirlott, A. G. (2012). An introduction to statistical mediation analysis. In Cooper H., Camic, P. M., Long, D. L., Panter, A. T. Rindskopf, D., & Sher, K. J. (Eds.), APA handbook of research methods in psychology: Research designs: Quantitative, qualitative, neuropsychological, and biological (Vol. 2, pp. 313–331). American Psychological Association.
• MacKinnon, D. P., Lockwood, C. M., Hoffman, J. M., West, S., & Sheets, V. (2002). A comparison of methods to test mediation and other intervening variable effects. Psychological Methods, 7, 83–104. 10.1037/1082-989X.7.1.83
• Martin, M. M., & Anderson, C. M. (1998). The cognitive flexibility scale: Three validity studies. Communication Reports, 11(1), 1-9. 10.1080/08934219809367680
• Martin, M. M., & Rubin, R. B. (1995). A new measure of cognitive flexibility. Psychological Reports, 76(2), 623-626. 10.2466/pr0.1995.76.2.623
• Mazhari, S. (2012). Association between problematic Internet use and impulse control disorders among Iranian university students. Cyberpsychology, Behavior, and Social Networking, 15(5), 270-273. 10.1089/cyber.2011.0548
• Milani, L., Osualdella, D., & Di Blasio, P. (2009). Quality of interpersonal relationships and problematic Internet use in adolescence. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 12(6), 681-684. 10.1089/cpb.2009.0071
• Mittal, C., Griskevicius, V., Simpson, J. A., Sung, S., Young, E. S. (2015). Cognitive adaptations to stressful environments: When childhood adversity enhances adult executive function. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 109, 604-621. 10.1037/pspi0000028
• Odacı, H., & Berber Çelik, Ç. (2013). Who are problematic internet users? An investigation of the correlations between problematic internet use and shyness, loneliness, narcissism, aggression and self-perception. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(6), 2382-2387. 10.1016/j.chb.2013.05.026
• Odacı, H., & Çıkrıkçı, Ö. (2014). Problematic internet use in terms of gender, attachment styles and subjective well-being in university students. Computers in Human Behavior, 32, 61-66. 10.1016/j.chb.2013.11.019
• Odacı, H., & Kalkan, M. (2010). Problematic Internet use, loneliness and dating anxiety among young adult university students. Computers & Education, 55(3), 1091-1097. 10.1016/j.compedu.2010.05.006
• Öztürk S. (2019). Cognitive Flexibility and Emotional Autonomy in Adolescents: The Mediating Role of Cognitive Emotion Regulation Strategies. [Unpublished master's thesis]. Cukurova University.
• Pawlikowski, M., Altstötter-Gleich, C., & Brand, M. (2013). Validation and psychometric properties of a short version of Young’s Internet Addiction Test. Computers in Human Behavior, 29(3), 1212-1223. 10.1016/j.chb.2012.10.014
• Preacher, K. J., & Hayes, A. F. (2008). Assessing mediation in communication research (pp. 13-54). London: The Sage sourcebook of advanced data analysis methods for communication research.
• Schaufeli, W. B., Enzmann, D., & Girault, N. (2017). Measurement of burnout: A review. Professional burnout, 199-215.
• Seepersad, S. (2004). Coping with loneliness: adolescent online and offline behavior. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 7, 35–39. 10.1089/109493104322820093
• Shapira, N. A., Goldsmith, T. D., Keck Jr, P. E., Khosla, U. M., & McElroy, S. L. (2000). Psychiatric features of individuals with problematic internet use. Journal of Affective Disorders, 57(1-3), 267-272. 10.1016/S0165-0327(99)00107-x
• Shaw, L. H., & Gant, L. M. (2002). Users divided? Exploring the gender gap in Internet use. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 5(6), 517-527. 10.1089/109493102321018150
• Somer, O., Korkmaz, M., & Tatar, A. (2011). Kuramdan Uygulamaya Beş Faktör Kişilik Modeli ve Beş Faktör Kişilik Envanteri [From theory to practice five factor personality model and five factor personality inventory]. İzmir: Ege Üniversitesi Basımevi Edebiyat Fakültesi Yayınları.
• Şenyiğit, A., & Kıran, B. (2019). Investigation of problematic internet use according to cognitive flexibility levels of high school students. International Journal of Eurasia Social Sciences. C, 10, 35.
• Tabachnick, B. G., Fidell, L. S., & Ullman, J. B. (2007). Using multivariate statistics (Vol. 5). Boston, MA: Pearson.
• Tsai, C. C., & Lin, S. S. (2003). Internet addiction of adolescents in Taiwan: An interview study. CyberPsychology & Behavior, 6(6), 649-652. 10.1089/109493103322725432
• Tutuş, A. (2019). 11-14 yaş arasında olan ergenlerin stresle başa çıkma tarzları ve bilişsel esneklik düzeyleri arasındaki ilişkinin araştırılması. [Unpublished master’s thesis]. Çağ University.
• Üneri, Ö. Ş., & Tanıdır, C. (2011). Evaluation of internet addiction in a group of high school students: a cross-sectional study. The Journal of Psychiatry and Neurological Sciences, 24(24), 265-272. 10.5350/DAJPN2011240402
• Vondráčková, P., & Gabrhelík, R. (2016). Prevention of Internet addiction: A systematic review. Journal of Behavioral Addictions, 5(4), 568-579. 10.1556/2006.5.2016.085 Yen, J. Y., Ko, C. H., Yen, C. F., Wu, H. Y., & Yang, M. J. (2007). The comorbid psychiatric symptoms of Internet addiction: attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), depression, social phobia, and hostility. Journal of Adolescent Health, 41(1), 93-98. 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.02.002
• Young, K. S. (1998). Internet addiction: The emergence of a new clinical disorder. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 1(3), 237-244. 10.1089/cpb.1998.1.237
• Young, K. S., & Rogers, R. C. (1998). The relationship between depression and Internet addiction. Cyberpsychology & Behavior, 1(1), 25-28. 10.1089/cpb.1998.1.25
• Zhou, Z., Yuan, G., & Yao, J. (2012). Cognitive biases toward Internet game-related pictures and executive deficits in individuals with an Internet game addiction. PloS One, 7(11). 10.1371/journal.pone.0048961
• Zong, J. G., Cao, X. Y., Cao, Y., Shi, Y. F., Wang, Y. N., Yan, C., ... & Chan, R. C. (2010). Coping flexibility in college students with depressive symptoms. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 8(1), 1-6. 10.1186/1477-7525-8-66