Examining Problematic Internet Use through Self-Determination and Agency Frameworks: Evidence from University Students

Abstract

This study investigated the relationships among problematic internet use (PIU), basic psychological need satisfaction, higher education life satisfaction, and multidimensional agentic personality (MAPS) in university students. A quantitative cross-sectional design was employed, collecting data from 509 students across 20 Turkish universities. Participants completed the Basic Psychological Needs Scale, Higher Education Life Satisfaction Scale, Multi-Measure Agentic Personality Scale, and Problematic Internet Use Scale. Correlation analyses revealed a significant negative association between PIU and both basic psychological need satisfaction and agentic personality. The relationship between PIU and life satisfaction was weak but statistically significant. Conversely, agentic personality was positively associated with both need satisfaction and life satisfaction, and basic psychological need satisfaction showed a strong positive relationship with life satisfaction. Hierarchical regression analysis indicated that agentic personality accounted for 8.8% of the variance in PIU, and the addition of basic psychological need satisfaction raised the explained variance to 12.6%, with both variables emerging as significant independent negative predictors of comparable magnitude. Basic psychological need satisfaction also strongly and positively predicted higher education life satisfaction, explaining 24.7% of its variance. Psychological need satisfaction and agentic functioning appear to serve as protective factors against maladaptive digital engagement.