The relationship between social network addiction, online gaming addiction, and suicide ideation: mediating and moderating role of loneliness

Digital addictions, specifically social network addiction (SNA) and online gaming addiction (OGA), are emerging as major public health issues, particularly due to their potential links with mental health risks. While previous research has identified associations between these forms of behavioral addiction and increased feelings of loneliness, their role in influencing suicidal ideation (SI) remains less understood. The present study aimed to examine the correlations between SNA, OGA, and SI, with a focus on the mediating and moderating role of loneliness. Conducted as a cross-sectional, online study, we recruited 1,186 Turkish-speaking adults (68.1% female; Mage = 25.51 ± 8.10) who completed self-report measures assessing SNA, OGA, SI, and loneliness. Results indicated that both SNA and OGA directly affected loneliness and SI. Loneliness directly impacted SI and partially mediated the correlation between SNA, OGA, and SI. Furthermore, loneliness moderated the effects of both SNA and OGA on SI, with these effects being more significant in individuals experiencing high levels of loneliness. These findings suggest that reducing SNA and OGA could be important for decreasing SI, particularly by addressing loneliness, which intensifies the impact of SNA and OGA on SI when elevated.