The role of online emotions and gender in the prediction of problematic internet use: a cross-cultural study

Cebollero-Salinas, Ana (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Gaeta-González, Martha Leticia ; Cano-Escoriaza, Jacobo (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Denoni-Buján, Magalí Yael (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: Internet have become a fundamental part of university student's lives, where emotions play an essential role and problematic Internet use (PIU) is a worrying phenomenon in this population and has become widespread worldwide. One aspect that may be essential to know about this phenomenon is the impact of emotions online and whether socio-emotional e-competencies facilitate adaptive behaviors in virtual environments for men and women; however, not enough studies have been conducted in this regard. Hence, this research aims to fill this gap by analyzing whether online emotional content and socioemotional e-competences predict problematic Internet use in the university population from Mexico and Spain, according to gender. Participants were 1524 university students (50.2 % Spain vs. 49.8 % Mexico) with mean age M = 19.84 (SD = 3.90) in Spain and M = 19.63 (SD = 1.70) in Mexico. The findings of multiple linear regressions show that online facilitation and emotional expression are the most critical risk factors for both sexes and countries. Emotional e-independence is a protective factor against PIU for both sexes, especially in men in both countries and Mexican women; e-self-control of impulsivity is a specific factor in the prediction of PIU, while in Mexican men, it is emotional e-regulation. Research contributions and educational implications are discussed.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.chbr.2025.100716

Año: 2025

Publicado en: Computers in Human Behavior Reports 19 (2025), 100716 [9 pp.]
ISSN: 2451-9588

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/S57-23R

Tipo y forma: Article (Published version)

Área (Departamento): Área Didáctica y Organiz. Esc. (Dpto. Ciencias de la Educación)