Motor impulsivity and problematic online behaviours among university students: the potential mediating role of coping style

Abstract

Motor impulsivity may be a predictor for generalized and specific problematic Internet uses in university students. The possible mediating role of coping style needs to be further researched. Among a sample of 726 Spanish university students, the present study examined the direct and indirect associations of motor impulsivity with generalized problematic internet use (GPIU), problematic social media use (PSMU), and problematic online gaming (POG), and the potential mediational role of coping styles. Results reported that motor impulsivity was directly associated with GPIU, PSMU, and POG, and indirectly associated with these problematic behaviours via the disengagement coping style. However, the engagement coping style did not play a mediating role. These findings suggest that disengagement coping style may, in part, explain the association between motor impulsivity and university students´ GPIU, PSMU, and POG, and provide empirical evidence for the theoretical hypothesis that different types of online problem behaviours share some aetiological mechanisms.