International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

International Journal of Behavioral Sciences

Modeling Internet Addiction: Examining the Impact of Parenting Styles and Psychological Control with the Mediating Roles of Media Literacy and Cognitive Emotion Regulation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Mohammad Hadi Mehrazzin 1
Khalil Ghafari 2
Mohsen Golmohamadian 3
Hasan Heidary 4
1 Department of Counseling, Islamic Azad University, Khomein Branch, Arak, Iran.
2 Counseling Department, Islamic Azad University, Khomein Branch, Arak,
3 Counseling Department, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
4 Counseling Department, Islamic Azad University, Khomein Branch, Arak
10.30491/ijbs.2025.493121.2180
Abstract
Introduction: The purpose of this study was to develop a predictive model of Internet addiction among high school students in Kermanshah. It is based on parenting styles as well as psychological control, with the mediating role of media literacy and cognitive emotion regulation.
Method: The present study is a quantitative-methods. The 384 high school students in Kermanshah were selected using a multi-stage cluster sampling method and the research instruments completed by the students in the academic year 1402-1403 included the following items: Baumrind’s Parenting Styles Inventory, Young's Internet Addiction Questionnaire, Tammen's Media Literacy Questionnaire, Soenens et al.'s Parental Psychological Control Scale, and Garnefski and Kraaij’s Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire. Path analysis and inferential statistics were employed to analyze the proposed model using SPSS and SMARTPLS software.
Results: The results revealed that parenting styles directly predict Internet addiction (β = 0.420, P < 0.05), with authoritative and permissive styles showing a stronger protective effect. Cognitive emotion regulation significantly mediated this relationship (β = 0.235, P < 0.05), indicating that better emotion regulation reduces the risk of addiction. However, psychological control did not directly predict Internet addiction (β = 0.104, P > 0.05) but had an indirect effect through cognitive emotion regulation (β = 0.520, P < 0.05). Media literacy, while not a direct predictor (β = 0.117, P > 0.05), mediated the relationship between parenting styles and Internet addiction, suggesting that higher media literacy promotes healthier Internet use.
Conclusion: Given that there is a relationship between Internet addiction, emotional regulation and parenting styles, developing family interactions and strengthening the parent-child relationships can create a sense of support and security. Therefore, families can reduce time spent on the Internet by promoting and encouraging alternative activities such as engaging in artistic activities, reading books, or participating in community-based projects.
Keywords
Internet Addiction
Parenting Style
Psychological Control
Media Literacy
Cognitive Emotion Regulation
Adolescents
Path Analysis
Predictive Modeling
Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)
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International Journal of Behavioral Sciences
Volume 19, Issue 1
Spring 2025
Pages 34-41