title: Self-concept clarity and compulsive Internet use: The role of preference for virtual interactions and employment status in British and North-American samples.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Compulsive Internet Use (CIU) describes a maladaptive relationship with the Internet characterised by loss of control and conflict. Although also affecting adults, most studies use teenage samples, and theoretical development on risk factors is scarce. According to Davis (2001), the social connectivity function of the Internet is key in identifying traits associated with CIU. Since Self-Concept Clarity (SCC) is strongly related to social anxiety, and virtual interactions allow "self-edition", we hypothesized that individuals low in SCC could choose virtual interactions as safer alternative to satisfy their social needs. This could in turn increase the risk of CIU. Building on a previous study, we also expected CIU to be more harmful in the unemployed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We collected samples from the U.K. (N = 532) and U.S. (N = 502) with equal distribution of employed and unemployed individuals. We ran Measurement Invariance tests to confirm that the constructs were equivalent across countries. Subsequently, we conducted mediation and moderation analysis to test our hypothesis with Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Measurement Invariance was confirmed. The relationship between SCC and CIU was partially mediated by preference of virtual interactions in both countries. This preference was significantly related to lower social support. Short term unemployment seemed to accentuate the negative impact of CIU on life satisfaction in both countries, although only marginally significantly in the U.S. The unemployed reported significantly lower levels of life satisfaction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We demonstrated that SCC is a key vulnerability factor to CIU in adults, and confirmed the additional risks for the unemployed.
authors.affiliation: Open University Business School , Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, UK.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Quinones
authors.affiliation: Henley Business School , Greenlands Campus, Henley, Reading-on-Thames, UK.
authors.forename: Nada Korak
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Kakabadse
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003192:Compulsive Behavior / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D008603:Mental Health; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010549:Personal Satisfaction; D012307:Risk Factors; D012649:Self Concept; D012944:Social Support; D014478:Unemployment / Q000523:psychology*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014481:United States
keywords: compulsive Internet use; life satisfaction; preference for virtual interaction; self-concept clarity; social support; unemployment