Study on Effects of Social and Personal Ibasho on Japanese Young Adult Internet Addiction

Background: While the Internet has become more effectively used after the COVID-19 outbreak, it has also become one of the major phenotypes of addiction worldwide. An individual’s place of being, otherwise known as Ibasho, may have effects on this kind of addiction. However, there has been no prior study to investigate the effects of Ibasho (social or personal) on Internet addiction. Purposes: This study aims at investigating possible direct/indirect (via mental health) effects of Social and Personal Ibasho on Internet addiction, and to see whether the effects, if any, are exacerbating or preventing. Methods: Participants were 225 undergraduate and graduate students aged 18 to 25. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to evaluate the direct and indirect effects of Social and Personal Ibasho on internet addiction. The Ibasho Scale (Harada & Takiwaki, 2014), Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998), and Clinical Outcomes in Routine Evaluation-Outcome Measure (CORE-OM: Evans et al., 2000, 2002) were used to assess the types of Ibasho, Internet addiction, and mental health, respectively. Results: Among men, individuals with low Social Ibasho scores were more likely to become addicted to the Internet via direct and indirect pathways. Individuals with high Personal Ibasho scores were more likely to become addicted through the direct pathway. Meanwhile, among women, individuals with low Personal Ibasho scores were more likely to become addicted to the Internet. Both among men and women, poor mental health exacerbated Internet addiction. Conclusion: For men, experiencing Social Ibasho, and for women, experiencing Personal Ibasho are key factors for preventing or alleviating Internet addiction.