Open Access

ARTICLE

Social anxiety and problematic Internet use in college students: The moderating role of attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help

Ronghua Wen¹, Lan Luo^2,*, Shiping Luo³, Tianlin Chen², Meng Fan¹

1 Mental Health Education Center, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510006, China
2 Psychological Counseling and Guidance Center, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, China
3 College of Humanities, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, 330004, China

* Corresponding Author: Lan Luo. Email:

Journal of Psychology in Africa 2025, 35(2), 231-239. https://doi.org/10.32604/jpa.2025.065770

Received 20 May 2024; Accepted 01 December 2024; Issue published 30 June 2025

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between social anxiety and problematic Internet use in college students, and how it is moderated by attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help. Participants were 1451 Chinese college students (female = 60.2%; mean age = 19.85 years, SD = 1.89 years). They completed the Interaction Anxiousness Scale, the Attitudes Toward Seeking Professional Psychological Help Scale-Short Form, and the Problematic Internet Use Scale. The results revealed that college students with higher social anxiety reported greater severity of problematic Internet use. Moreover, students with negative attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help also reported greater severity of problematic Internet use. Notably, attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help moderated the relationship between social anxiety and problematic Internet use in college student, such that the relationship was weakened when attitudes toward seeking professional psychological help was positive. These findings suggest a need for student development and support programs for promoting openness to seeking professional psychological help if with problematic Internet use from social anxiety.

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Keywords

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