EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INTERNET ADDICTION AND INTERPERSONAL FUNCTIONING; ROLE OF EARLY MALADAPTIVE SCHEMAS AS MODERATOR

Abstract

Objectives: To examine the relationship between internet addiction and
interpersonal functioning as well as the role of early maladaptive schemas,
particularly disconnection/ rejection and impaired autonomy/ performance as
moderator.
Design of Study: A cross sectional research design was used.
Place and Duration of the study: Islamabad and Rawalpindi, during the period
of September 2023 to June 2024.
Sample and Method: A total sample of 355 young adults aged between 18 to
25years (M=20.8, SD=1.8) was drawn from the universities of Islamabad and
Rawalpindi with the help of purposive sampling technique. The following
measures were used: Internet Addiction Test, the Young Schema Questionnaire
Short Form and the Interpersonal Relationship Questionnaire–Short Form /
FIAT-Q-SF.
Results and conclusion: Results showed a significant positive correlation
between internet addiction, interpersonal functioning, and early maladaptive
schemas, internet addiction and early maladaptive schemas: internet addiction
and low interpersonal functioning, early maladaptive schemas and low
interpersonal functioning. Furthermore, it highlighted that internet addiction
accounted for 7.7 percent of the variance in interpersonal functioning. The
outcome of this research indicated that early maladaptive schemas
Disconnection/Rejection and Impaired Autonomy/Performance do not moderate
this relationship but do predict interpersonal functioning.