Association between online and offline social support and problematic internet use: the mediating role of refusal self-efficacy of internet use

Based on the theoretical frameworks of Bandura’s Social Cognitive Theory and Theory of Triadic Influence (TTI), the study aimed to examine the relationships between Problematic Internet Use (PIU) and different sources of social support in a large sample of adolescents, and whether refusal self-efficacy of Internet use mediates the relationships. This cross-sectional study recruited 1127 participants from junior high schools in Taiwan, and were asked to complete self-report questionnaires containing the Social Support Scale, Virtual Social Support Scale, Refusal Self-Efficacy of Internet Use Scale, and Chinese Internet Addiction Scale-Revised. Results showed that refusal self-efficacy negatively predicted PIU, and social support from different sources and has a varied effect on PIU. Online social support was positively correlated with PIU, while offline social support from parents had a negative correlation with PIU. However, the relationship between off-line social support from friends and PIU, and the relationship between off-line social support from friends and refusal self-efficacy did not correlate. In addition, refusal self-efficacy partially mediated the positive prediction of PIU by online social support, while it fully mediated the negative prediction of PIU by offline social support from parents. Our findings supported Bandura’s theory and TTI, which indicated that human behaviors are influenced by environmental and intrapersonal factors, suggesting that different types of social support may lead to various effects on PIU and that refusal self-efficacy can mediate the predictions of social support for PIU. These findings can be used to develop PIU prevention programs for adolescents that include both social support and refusal self-efficacy components.