Internet Addiction Mediated the Association Between Loneliness and Learning Engagement Among College Students- The Moderating Effect of Grade

Extensive evidence has recognized the importance of loneliness in shaping the learning experiences of college students. However, the mechanisms linking loneliness to student engagement, as well as the contextual factors that may influence this relationship, remain underexplored. This study aims to investigate the associations among loneliness, internet addiction, and student engagement, with a particular focus on internet addiction as a mediator and grade level as a moderator. In this regard, a sample of 2,390 Chinese college students was surveyed, and data were analyzed using SPSS with PROCESS Models 4 and 5 to test mediation and moderation effects, respectively. The results revealed that loneliness significantly negatively correlated with student engagement. Furthermore, this relationship was partially mediated by internet addiction and moderated by grade level, with the effect being stronger among lower-grade students compared to their higher-grade counterparts. The study highlights the need for targeted interventions that reduce internet addiction and enhance engagement, particularly among early-year students, to promote mental health and academic success.