Mediating Role of Relative Deprivation in the Effect of Internet Addiction on Cryptocurrency Trading in University Students

Objective: This research was conducted to determine the mediating role of relative deprivation in the effect of internet addiction on cryptocurrency trading in university students. Method: A descriptive and cross-sectional research design was employed with 418 university students from eastern Turkey. Data were collected using the "Personal Information Form," "Young Internet Addiction Test–Short Form," "Problematic Cryptocurrency Trading Scale," and the "Relative Deprivation Scale." Results: Of the participants, 59.8% reported that their income matched their expenditures, 56.9% identified as male, and the mean age was 22.86 years. Internet addiction demonstrated a significant positive effect on relative deprivation (coefficient = 0.2139). Additionally, internet addiction had a direct positive effect on cryptocurrency trading (coefficient = 0.1385). Relative deprivation also showed a significant direct positive effect on cryptocurrency trading (coefficient = 0.3292). Conclusion: Internet addiction directly influences cryptocurrency trading and also exerts an indirect effect through relative deprivation. These findings indicate that relative deprivation partially mediates the relationship between internet addiction and cryptocurrency trading.