title: Effect of social support on depression of internet addicts and the mediating role of loneliness.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many studies have determined the existence of an extremely close association between Internet addiction and depression. However, the reasons for the depression of Internet addicts have not been fully investigated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This cross-sectional study aims to explore the factors that influence depression among Internet addicts.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 162 male Internet addicts completed the Emotional and Social Loneliness Scale, Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support, and Self-Rating Depression Scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Loneliness and lack of social support are significantly correlated with depression among Internet addicts. Structural Equation Modeling results indicate that social support partially mediates loneliness and depression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both social support and loneliness were negatively associated with depression of Internet addicts whereas loneliness plays a mediating role between social support and depression.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Management, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: He
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Qin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: School of Public Management, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Public Management, Northwest University, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Rong
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Burns and Cutaneous Surgery, Xijing Hospital, Xi'an, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Guan
keywords: Depression; Internet addiction; Loneliness; Social support; Structural equation modeling