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Unregulated Internet Usage: Addiction, Habit, or Deficient Self-Regulation?
Abstract
Recent reports of problematic forms of Internet usage bring new currency to the problem of "media addictions" that have long been the subject of both popular and scholarly writings. The research in this article reconsidered such behavior as deficient self-regulation within the framework of A. Bandura's (1991) theory of self-regulation. In this framework, behavior patterns that have been called media addictions lie at one extreme of a continuum of unregulated media behavior that extends from normally impulsive media consumption patterns to extremely problematic behavior that might properly be termed pathological. These unregulated media behaviors are the product of deficient self-regulatory processes through which media consumers monitor, judge, and adjust their own behavior, processes that may be found in all media consumers. The impact of deficient self-regulation on media behavior was examined in a sample of 465 college students. A measure of deficient self-regulation drawn from the diagnostic criteria used in past studies of pathological Internet usage was significantly and positively correlated to Internet use across the entire range of consumption, including among normal users who showed relatively few of the "symptoms." A path analysis demonstrated that depression and media habits formed to alleviate depressed moods undermined self-regulation and led to increased Internet usage.
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In the citing paper
“This model has been widely used in addiction research related to pathological Internet overuse (Larose, Lin, & Eastin, 2003; Liu & Peng, 2009; Turel, Serenko, & Giles, 2011).”
From Social media addiction: Its impact, mediation, and intervention (2019) · cites this paper as Larose, Lin, & Eastin, 2003
In the citing paper
“The sociocognitive model of internet addiction (24) similarly proposes that because online and social media stimuli can be psychologically rewarding, people are incentivized to stay engaged, but those with poorer self-regulation (e.g., individuals with psychological disorders) are especially susceptible to developing harmful social media habits.”
From Does Social Media Use Increase Depressive Symptoms? A Reverse Causation Perspective (2021) · cites this paper as [24]
In the citing paper
“However, users who are adept at navigating SNSs may tend to spend more time on it as they discover new functions and keep themselves updated on new extensions to SNSs past research has shown that efficacy in navigating the Internet is associated with higher time spent on it (LaRose et al., 2003).”
From Till logout do us part? Comparison of factors predicting excessive social network sites use and addiction between Singaporean adolescents and adults (2017) · cites this paper as LaRose et al., 2003
In the citing paper
“The third theoretical paradigm is known as the social cognitive model, which postulates that addiction is a function of deficiency in one's self-regulatory functions and the degree of automaticity in individuals' media use (LaRose, Lin, & Eastin, 2003;Lee, Ho, & Lwin, 2017b).”
From Till logout do us part? Comparison of factors predicting excessive social network sites use and addiction between Singaporean adolescents and adults (2017) · cites this paper as LaRose et al., 2003
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Metadata
- Authors
- LaRose, R., Lin, C. A., & Eastin, M. S.
- Affiliations
- Michigan State University (US)
- Cleveland State University (US)
- The Ohio State University (US)
- Venue
- Media Psychology
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2003-08
- Volume
- 5
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 225-253
- ISSN
- 1521-3269 (ISSN-L)
- 1532-785X
- OpenAlex
- W1988710891
- Cited by
- 868
- References
- 70
- Citations by year
- 2026: 44 · 2025: 50 · 2024: 46 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 63 · 2021: 53 · 2020: 53 · 2019: 59 · 2018: 52 · 2017: 55 · 2016: 49 · 2015: 44 · 2014: 58 · 2013: 40 · 2012: 35
- FWCI
- 27.25
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Media Psychology (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Sociology and Political Science › Impact of Technology on Adolescents
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Sexuality, Behavior, and Technology
- Social Sciences › Communication › Media Influence and Health
- Keywords
- problematic internet use, media addiction, self-regulation theory, Bandura, internet addiction, media habits, depression, university students
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