Predicting Internet Addiction Through Various Time Perspectives and Object Relations in Students

An individual's attitude toward time and their childhood relationships can significantly influence their behaviors, both normal and abnormal, as well as their tendencies toward addiction. This research aims to predict internet addiction by examining various types of time perspectives and patterns of object relations.

This study was descriptive and correlational in nature, focusing on first-year female secondary school students in Tehran during the 2021-2022 academic year. From this population, 311 students were selected as the research sample using convenience sampling. Data were collected through three instruments: the Internet Addiction Questionnaire (Young, 1998), the Time Perspective Inventory (Zimbardo, 1999), and the Object Relations Inventory (Bell, 1995). The data were analyzed using Pearson's correlation coefficient and multiple regression analysis.

The results of the data analysis indicated that among the different time perspectives, a hedonistic present orientation, a positive past perspective, and a goal-oriented future outlook, along with self-centeredness in object relations, significantly predicted internet addiction among female students. The relationship between internet addiction and both hedonistic and fatalistic present time perspectives, as well as negative past orientation, was found to be positive and significant. Conversely, the relationship with other time perspectives was negative and significant. Additionally, internet addiction showed a positive and significant relationship with all patterns of object relations, including self-centeredness, alienation, social incompetence, and insecure attachment (P ≤ 0.05).

Given the confirmed role of time perspective and object relations in predicting internet addiction, it is recommended that these