The association between family environment and problematic internet use in adolescents: The mediating role of self-control and psychological capital, and the moderating role of gender

Over the past decade, problematic Internet use (PIU) has emerged as a major global health concern, particularly among adolescents. This study examined the influence of the family environment on PIU, focusing on the mediating roles of self-control and psychological capital (PsyCap), and the moderating role of gender. A sample of 559 first-year high school students in Shiraz (287 boys, 272 girls) was selected through multistage cluster sampling during the 2022-2023 academic year. Structural equation modeling was employed to test the proposed hypotheses. The results indicated that a supportive family environment-characterized by cohesion, expressiveness, and low conflict-directly reduces PIU and indirectly influences it through enhanced self-control (supporting H1, H3, H4, and H6). In contrast, PsyCap did not significantly mediate this relationship (H5, H7), and gender did not moderate it (H8). These findings underscore the importance of fostering self-regulation within the family context as a key strategy for preventing and mitigating PIU among adolescents.