Abstract
Few studies have investigated the longitudinal correlations among negative life events, a sense of security, and internet addiction (IA). The aim of the present study was to test these correlations in Chinese university freshmen. This study included a total of 912 university freshmen (384 men [42.11%]; mean age, 18.36 ± 0.82 years). Assessments were performed at four time points at 6-month intervals. Random intercept cross-lagged analysis revealed that negative life events at T1 positively predicted IA at T2, negative life events at T2 negatively predicted a sense of security and positively predicted IA at T3, a sense of security at T3 negatively predicted negative life events and IA at T4, IA at T2 negatively predicted a sense of security at T3, and IA at T3 positively predicted negative life events at T4. Importantly, a sense of security at T3 mediated the effect of negative life events at T2 on IA at T4 and the effect of IA at T2 on negative life events at T4. Additionally, the longitudinal correlations among negative life events, a sense of security, and IA were stronger in female students than in male students. Our findings suggest that the correlation between negative life events and IA is pathological compensation and that a sense of security is an internal compensation mechanism. This information may contribute to the development of psychological interventions for reducing IA in university freshmen.