TR
EN
Examining Problematic Internet Use through Self-Determination and Agency Frameworks: Evidence from University Students
Abstract
This study investigated the relationships among problematic internet use (PIU), basic psychological need satisfaction, higher education life satisfaction, and multidimensional agentic personality (MAPS) in university students. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed, collecting data from 509 students across 20 Turkish universities. Participants completed the Basic Psychological Needs Scale, Higher Education Life Satisfaction Scale, Multi-Measure Agentic Personality Scale, and Problematic Internet Use Scale. Correlation analyses revealed a significant negative association between PIU and both basic psychological need satisfaction and agentic personality. The relationship between PIU and life satisfaction was weak but statistically significant. Conversely, agentic personality was positively associated with both need satisfaction and life satisfaction, and basic psychological need satisfaction showed a strong positive relationship with life satisfaction. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that agentic personality accounted for 8.8% of the variance in PIU, and the addition of basic psychological need satisfaction raised the explained variance to 12.6%, with both variables emerging as significant independent negative predictors of comparable magnitude. Basic psychological need satisfaction also strongly and positively predicted higher education life satisfaction, explaining 24.7% of its variance. Psychological need satisfaction and agentic functioning appear to serve as protective factors against maladaptive digital engagement.
Keywords
Ethical Statement
The study has been reviewed and accepted by the Ethics Committee of the Faculty of Social and Human Sciences at İstinye University, taking into account the rationale, purpose, approach, and methods.
Thanks
Thanks to Emin Gökmen for his contribution.
References
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Higher Education Studies (Other)
Journal Section
Research Article
Publication Date
August 26, 2026
Submission Date
November 30, 2025
Acceptance Date
August 6, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 23 Number: 2
APA
Bayram, Ü. A., & Ildırım, E. (2026). Examining Problematic Internet Use through Self-Determination and Agency Frameworks: Evidence from University Students. Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, 23(2), 587-610. https://doi.org/10.33711/yyuefd.1833088
AMA
1.Bayram ÜA, Ildırım E. Examining Problematic Internet Use through Self-Determination and Agency Frameworks: Evidence from University Students. Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026;23(2):587-610. doi:10.33711/yyuefd.1833088
Chicago
Bayram, Ülkü Ayşe, and Ezgi Ildırım. 2026. “Examining Problematic Internet Use through Self-Determination and Agency Frameworks: Evidence from University Students”. Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 23 (2): 587-610. https://doi.org/10.33711/yyuefd.1833088.
EndNote
Bayram ÜA, Ildırım E (August 1, 2026) Examining Problematic Internet Use through Self-Determination and Agency Frameworks: Evidence from University Students. Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 23 2 587–610.
IEEE
[1]Ü. A. Bayram and E. Ildırım, “Examining Problematic Internet Use through Self-Determination and Agency Frameworks: Evidence from University Students”, Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 23, no. 2, pp. 587–610, Aug. 2026, doi: 10.33711/yyuefd.1833088.
ISNAD
Bayram, Ülkü Ayşe - Ildırım, Ezgi. “Examining Problematic Internet Use through Self-Determination and Agency Frameworks: Evidence from University Students”. Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi 23/2 (August 1, 2026): 587-610. https://doi.org/10.33711/yyuefd.1833088.
JAMA
1.Bayram ÜA, Ildırım E. Examining Problematic Internet Use through Self-Determination and Agency Frameworks: Evidence from University Students. Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026;23:587–610.
MLA
Bayram, Ülkü Ayşe, and Ezgi Ildırım. “Examining Problematic Internet Use through Self-Determination and Agency Frameworks: Evidence from University Students”. Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi, vol. 23, no. 2, Aug. 2026, pp. 587-10, doi:10.33711/yyuefd.1833088.
Vancouver
1.Ülkü Ayşe Bayram, Ezgi Ildırım. Examining Problematic Internet Use through Self-Determination and Agency Frameworks: Evidence from University Students. Van Yüzüncü Yıl Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. 2026 Aug. 1;23(2):587-610. doi:10.33711/yyuefd.1833088