Abstract
Literature highlighted how beliefs and a lack of meaning in life may act as a motive for developing addictions. This present study investigated the relationship between addictive beliefs, core beliefs, meaning in life, generalized problematic Internet use (PIU), problematic Facebook use (PFU), and problematic Instagram use (PIgU). A sample of 573 French participants aged between 18 and 78 years old (M = 31.8, SD = 12.3), with 471 female participants (82%), responded to an online survey that assessed PIU, PFU, PIgU, addictive beliefs about Internet use, core beliefs about behavioral addictions and Internet addiction (IA), and meaning in life dimensions. Overall, Pearson’s correlations indicated that PIU, PFU, and PIgU were correlated with scores of meaning anxiety, meaning confusion, and three dimensions of core beliefs about behavioral addictions and Internet addiction. Multiple linear regressions indicated that PIU, PFU, and PIgU were positively impacted by scores of positive addictive beliefs about Internet use (believing Internet use brings gratification), and PIU was significantly impacted by scores of meaning confusion. This study found associations between addictive beliefs and PIU, PFU, and PIgU. Thus, it is important to investigate those beliefs in therapeutical settings. Results of this research may guide future studies aiming to investigate gratification and expectations towards Internet use. With certain meaning in life subscores correlating with PIU, PFU, and PIgU, further research should be dedicated to investigating other variables that may be involved in the relationship between meaning in life and Internet use. Implications for further research were discussed.