The association between perceived social support and internet addiction among Chinese civil aviation male flight students: chain mediating effects of positive coping strategies and basic psychological need satisfaction

Background: This study aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying the relationship between perceived social support and internet addiction among Chinese civil aviation flight students among Chinese civil aviation flight students, with a focus on examining the chain mediating role of positive coping strategies and basic psychological need satisfaction in this relationship. Methods: Employing a cross-sectional design and cluster sampling method, 1,235 male flight students from the Civil Aviation Flight University of China (mean age 18.80 ± 0.78 years) were surveyed using questionnaires. Data were collected using the Perceived Social Support Scale (PSSS), Chinese Internet Addiction Scale-Revised (CIAS-R), Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ), and Basic Need Satisfaction in General Scale (BNSG-S). Chain mediation analysis was conducted using SPSS 26.0 and PROCESS macro Model 6. Results: < 0.01). Both positive coping strategies and basic psychological need satisfaction played significant mediating roles. The mediation effect of positive coping strategies was -0.15, while the mediation effect of basic psychological need satisfaction was 0.03. The chain mediation pathway was also significant. The total indirect effect was -0.113, accounting for 31.4% of the total effect. Conclusion: Perceived social support is associated with internet addiction among flight students through both independent and chain mediation pathways of positive coping strategies and basic psychological need satisfaction. These findings provide theoretical foundations and practical guidance for developing internet addiction prevention and intervention systems for flight students.