Serial Dual Mediating Effects of Withdrawal and Aggression on the Relationship between Internet Overdependence and Depression/Anxiety among High School Students

Objectives This study examined the sequential dual mediating effects of withdrawal and aggression on the relationship between Internet overdependence and depression/anxiety among high school students. Methods Data were obtained from the 16th year of the Korea Welfare Panel Study, which covered 320 high school students, and were analyzed using PROCESS macro Model 6 and the bootstrapping method were employed to investigate the sequential dual mediating model. Results The findings demonstrated that Internet overdependence increased withdrawal, which in turn, elevated depression/anxiety among high school students. Furthermore, Internet overdependence increased withdrawal, which heightened aggression, ultimately contributing to high school students' depression/anxiety. Conclusions The results of this study suggest the need to consider withdrawal and aggression together that can be caused by overdependence on the Internet as well as overdependence on the Internet as a response to mental health problems such as depression and anxiety among adolescents.