Problematic internet and social network site use in young adults: the role of emotional intelligence and fear of negative evaluation

Naidu, Suwastika and Chand, Anand and Pandaram, Atishwar and Patel, Arvind (2023) Problematic internet and social network site use in young adults: the role of emotional intelligence and fear of negative evaluation. Personality and Individual Differences, 200 . NA. ISSN 0191-8869

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Abstract

The present study contributes to the existing literature by testing a model that considers the relationship between
emotional intelligence (EI), fear of negative evaluation (FNE), and problematic internet (PIU) and social network
site use (PSNSU). In this study, 1067 young adults (44.6 % males, 55.4 % females) within the age bracket of 18 to
25 years completed self-administered online questionnaires. It was found that low self-esteem and high social
anxiety facilitate fear of negative evaluation in social situations, thus mediating the relationship between
emotional intelligence and problematic internet and social network site use. The moderation analysis confirmed
that the strength of the relationship between emotional intelligence and problematic internet and social network
site use is not constant. It depends on the level of fear of negative evaluation. We have confirmed that heightened
social anxiety and low self-esteem result in overuse of the internet and social network site due to fear of negative
evaluation from others.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HB Economic Theory J Political Science > JQ Political institutions Asia
Divisions:	School of Accounting, Finance and Economics (SAFE) School of Business and Management (SBM)
Depositing User:	Suwastika Naidu
Date Deposited:	13 Oct 2022 00:50
Last Modified:	13 Oct 2022 00:50
URI:	https://repository.usp.ac.fj/id/eprint/13763

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