Abstract:

In this study, the role of loneliness as a mediator in the relationship between the levels of internet and smartphone addictions and psychological well-being of middle and high school students was examined. The study group consists of 538 secondary and high school students. Data were collected via Demographic Information Form, Young Internet Addiction Scale-SF, Smartphone Addiction Scale-SF, UCLA Loneliness Scale and Stirling Emotional and Psychological Well-Being Scale for Children. In the analysis of the data, pearson correlation and structural equation model (YEM) analysis techniques were used. According to the results of the correlation analysis, there are significant negative effects between psychological well-being and internet addiction, smartphone addiction and loneliness; significant positive effects between internet addiction and smartphone addiction and loneliness; and significant positive effects between smartphone addiction and loneliness. According to the results of the YEM analysis of model 1, where internet addiction is an exogenous variable, loneliness plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between internet addiction and psychological well-being. According to the analysis results of the 2nd model, where smartphone addiction is an external variable, it was determined that loneliness plays a partial mediating role in the relationship between smartphone addiction and psychological well-being. The results were discussed in the light of the literature.

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