Depression, loneliness and Internet addiction: How important is low self-control?

•Depression and loneliness correlated with low self-control and Internet addiction.•Low self-control correlated with Internet addiction.•Loneliness has a direct effect on Internet addiction.•Loneliness and depression affect Internet addiction through low self-control.

This study aimed to explore both the direct and indirect relationships between depression, loneliness, low self-control, and Internet addiction in a sample of Turkish youth, based on a cognitive-behavioral model of generalized problematic Internet use. Data for the present study were collected from 648 undergraduate students with a mean age of 22.46 years (SD = 2.45). Participants completed scales for depression, loneliness, self-control and Internet addiction. Structural equation modeling was used to test the model in which depression and loneliness predicted Internet addiction through low self-control. The findings revealed that of the two factors, only loneliness was related to Internet addiction through low self-control. The results are discussed in terms of the cognitive-behavioral model of generalized problematic Internet use, and implications for practice are considered.