Social anxiety and problematic Internet use in college students: The moderating role of attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help

This study investigated the relationship between social anxiety and problematic Internet use in college students, and how it is moderated by attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. Participants were 1451 Chinese college students (female = 60.2%; mean age = 19.85 years, SD = 1.89 years). They completed the Interaction Anxiousness Scale, the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form, and the Problematic Internet Use Scale. The results revealed that college students with higher social anxiety reported greater severity of problematic Internet use. Moreover, students with negative attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help also reported greater severity of problematic Internet use. Notably, attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help moderated the relationship between social anxiety and problematic Internet use in college student, such that the relationship was weakened when attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help was positive. These findings suggest a need for student development and support programs for promoting openness to seeking professional psychological help if with problematic Internet use from social anxiety.