Social loneliness and web gaming dependancy amongst adolescents: the mediating roles of escape motivation and self-control

2.1. Theoretical underpinning

As outlined by the CIUT, people usually use the Internet as a way to fill the gaps or unmet wants of their real-world experiences, notably when confronted with unfavourable feelings and stressors. In such circumstances, the Internet presents a way of escape (Kardefelt-Winther, 2014). This concept has been extensively validated in analysis on digital behaviors and supplies an vital explanatory framework for understanding adolescent IGA (Fu et al., 2020). When adolescents expertise robust emotions of SL in actual life, the immersive expertise and immediate rewards supplied by Internet video games function a strong compensatory mechanism that meets their unmet social wants (Quancai et al., 2023). Research means that people who face social isolation of their on a regular basis lives have a tendency to hunt refuge on-line, because the web supplies non permanent aid from unfavourable feelings (Fan et al., 2022). Nevertheless, this compensatory utilization is basically a maladaptive coping mechanism; relying on it to regulate disagreeable emotions incessantly compromises SC, leading to overuse and, finally, addicted behaviors (Liu et al., 2024). Therefore, adopting the CIUT because the theoretical framework permits a transparent clarification of how SL is related to adolescent IGA by way of its hyperlinks with EM and SC. This mannequin presents a novel strategy to comprehend the psychological dynamics driving adolescent dependancy and serves as a strong theoretical basis for crafting intervention strategies.

2.2. Hypotheses

2.3. Current analysis

This research examined the affiliation between SL and IGA amongst adolescents, specializing in EM and SC as parallel mediators. Guided by the CIUT framework, a mediation mannequin (Figure 1) was constructed to discover whether or not these pathways clarify the SL–IGA hyperlink.

3.1. Participants

This research employed a multi-school questionnaire survey design for questionnaire distribution and information assortment, and the survey was administered through the net platform Wenjuanxing.¹ Ethical approval was granted by the Wenshan University Ethics Committee, and information have been collected from October to November 2025. Middle faculty college students have been recruited from a number of colleges in China by way of school-based coordination and on-line questionnaire distribution. Rather than claiming nationwide representativeness, this research aimed to incorporate college students from totally different faculty contexts to reinforce pattern heterogeneity. However, detailed data concerning the variety of taking part colleges, geographic areas, city–rural distribution, and socioeconomic composition was not totally recorded throughout information assortment. Thus, the generalizability of the outcomes warrants warning. Before participation, all individuals have been briefed on the research and assured confidentiality. It was fully voluntary to take part, and knowledgeable consent was obtained in accordance with moral necessities.

In accordance with the pattern dimension estimation tips supplied by Kline (2018), structural equation modeling requires not less than 10 individuals per merchandise, with a further 20% allowance for potential pattern loss. Given that the questionnaire contained 50 gadgets, the estimated required pattern dimension was 600 individuals (50 × 10 × 1.2). A sum of 774 questionnaires was obtained, with 43 deemed invalid, leading to 731 usable responses. The efficient response price was 94%, indicating a ample pattern dimension and good information high quality to assist mannequin development and statistical inference. To decrease bias from ceiling and flooring results, surveys have been excluded if (1) over 20% of things have been unanswered or (2) greater than 80% of responses have been excessive (Dong et al., 2012).

The majority of individuals have been between 14 and 17 years previous (accounting for 89.19% of the pattern). Regarding gender distribution, there have been 427 males (58.41%) and 304 females (41.59%), reflecting a comparatively balanced and consultant group (Table 1).

To management for potential demographic confounds, variations in IGA ranges have been in contrast throughout key demographic teams (see Table 2). Analysis indicated that IGA didn’t differ considerably with age, educational grade, or household socioeconomic background (all p > 0.05). In distinction, a statistically vital distinction emerged between genders (p < 0.05), main us to incorporate gender as a covariate in all subsequent analyses.

3.2. Measures

5.1. Descriptive statistics

Normality was assessed utilizing skewness and kurtosis to make sure the info met multivariate evaluation assumptions and to assist the reliability of statistical checks. As famous by Kline (2015), Values of skewness beneath an absolute worth of two and kurtosis beneath 7 could be thought-about indicative of normality. The skewness and kurtosis indices for the primary variables on this analysis fell inside acceptable ranges, indicating that the info typically adhered to the conventional distribution sample (see Table 3).

5.2. Composite reliability and validity

The outcomes of the reliability and validity assessments for all constructs are displayed in Table 4. According to Fornell and Larcker (1981), CR values higher than 0.70 point out acceptable reliability, and Cronbach’s α values above 0.70 are thought-about passable (Hayes, 2018). All constructs had CR and Cronbach’s α above the really useful thresholds (Table 4), indicating dependable inside consistency. Convergent validity was then assessed utilizing the AVE, with values above 0.50 thought-about acceptable (Hayes, 2018). The outcomes present that the AVE values for all constructs exceeded 0.50, suggesting good convergence among the many measurement indicators.

5.3. Common technique bias and confirmatory issue evaluation

Harman’s single-factor check was initially used to judge CMB. The first element defined 35.48% of the entire variance, in line with the info, which was lower than the extensively accepted cutoff of 40% (Podsakoff et al., 2003). However, as a result of Harman’s single-factor check has been criticized as inadequate when used alone, a CFA-based ULMC method was additional performed in AMOS.

Because the current research included 4 key latent variables, particularly SL, EM, SC, and IGA, a four-factor CFA mannequin was first constructed, with the gadgets of every scale loading onto their corresponding latent issue. As proven in Table 5, the baseline four-factor mannequin confirmed acceptable match. This baseline mannequin was then supplemented with a shared latent technique issue, enabling all noticed gadgets to load on each the strategy issue and their theoretical constructs. The technique issue mannequin demonstrated passable match, with minimal variations in match indices in comparison with the baseline mannequin, all beneath really useful thresholds (Marsh and Hocevar, 1985). These information recommend that the outcomes are unlikely to have been considerably impacted by frequent method bias.

Furthermore, multi-group CFA was used to analyze if the measurement mannequin was gender-neutral. Given the comparatively massive variety of indicators, configural invariance was examined. The configural mannequin confirmed acceptable match (χ² = 3251.038, df = 1,646, χ²/df = 1.975, CFI = 0.923, RMSEA = 0.037), suggesting that the general issue construction was related throughout female and male teams.

5.4. Collinearity diagnostics

To guarantee the steadiness of the mannequin and the validity of its outcomes, multicollinearity was assessed. All variables had tolerance above 0.1 and VIF beneath 3.3, indicating no multicollinearity points (Table 6) (Hair et al., 2019).

5.5. Correlations amongst research variable

This research performed correlation analyses to look at the relationships amongst SL, EM, SC, and IGA. As proven in Table 7, SL was positively correlated with EM (r = 0.376, p < 0.001) and IGA (r = 0.354, p < 0.001), and negatively correlated with SC (r = −0.447, p < 0.001). IGA was strongly positively related to EM (r = 0.744, p < 0.001) and negatively with SC (r = −0.625, p < 0.001). Therefore, H1 is supported.

5.6. Mediation impact evaluation

After controlling for gender, mediation analyses have been carried out utilizing PROCESS Model 4. Gender was dummy coded (1 = male, 2 = feminine) and included as a covariate within the PROCESS mediation mannequin. As proven in Table 8 and Figure 2, SL was positively related to EM (β = 0.379, p < 0.001) and negatively related to SC (β = −0.446, p < 0.001). EM was positively related to IGA (β = 0.550, p < 0.001), whereas SC was negatively related to IGA (β = −0.342, p < 0.001). The direct path from SL to IGA was not vital (β = −0.003, 95% CI [−0.053, 0.046]), whereas the oblique results by way of EM (β = 0.208, 95% CI [0.161, 0.261]) and SC (β = 0.152, 95% CI [0.116, 0.191]) have been vital, indicating that these mediators collectively accounted for the affiliation between SL and IGA. The R² values for SL → EM and SL → SC have been 0.160 and 0.201, respectively, indicating reasonable impact sizes. These outcomes recommend that the recognized mediating mechanisms have significant sensible implications, as interventions concentrating on EM and SC might considerably cut back the chance of adolescent IGA.

As proven in Table 9 and Figure 2, the entire impact of SL on IGA was vital (β = 0.357, 95% CI = [0.291, 0.424]), indicating a constructive affiliation between SL and IGA. The direct impact of SL on IGA was not vital (β = −0.003, 95% CI = [−0.053, 0.047]), displaying the connection is totally mediated by way of EM and SC. Both parallel oblique paths have been vital: the oblique impact by way of EM was 0.208 (95% CI = [0.161, 0.258]), accounting for 58.26% of the entire impact, whereas the oblique impact by way of SC was 0.152 (95% CI = [0.117, 0.192]), accounting for 42.58% of the entire impact. Moreover, the oblique impact by way of EM was bigger than that by way of SC. Therefore, H2 and H3 have been supported.

6.1. Social loneliness and web gaming dependancy

The findings of this analysis indicated that SL strongly and positively forecasted IGA in adolescents, supporting H1. This end result agrees with the analysis of Yu et al. (2022), indicating that people with greater SL have a tendency to make use of on-line gaming to satisfy these wants, rising their susceptibility to gaming dependancy. As acknowledged within the CIUT, Internet gaming supplies people with an vital technique of dealing with real-life stress, assuaging unfavourable feelings, and compensating for unmet social wants (Melodia et al., 2022). Immersed within the digital world of Internet video games, gamers fulfill primary psychological wants—akin to identification expression, social connection, and creativity—by way of teamwork, achievement, and different in-game actions (Giardina et al., 2021). However, this compensatory achievement carries potential unfavourable penalties. Although adolescents could quickly relieve emotions of loneliness by way of Internet gaming, the underlying causes of their SL stay unaddressed. In truth, Internet gaming could substitute actions mandatory for sustaining wholesome relationships or forming new ones, thereby exacerbating their SL over time (Sporcic and Glavak-Tkalic, 2023). Therefore, the outcomes of this investigation spotlight the vital function of SL within the growth of IGA amongst adolescents and additional validate the applicability of the CIUT on this context. These outcomes recommend that school-based psychological well being applications ought to give attention to adolescents’ social well-being, foster supportive social environments, and assist meet adolescents’ psychological wants in actual life, thereby addressing the basis causes and in the end decreasing the incidence of IGA.

6.2. The mediating function of escape motivation

EM served as a mediator between SL and IGA amongst adolescents, supporting H2. The direct impact of SL on IGA was non-significant (β = −0.003, 95% CI [−0.053, 0.046]) when EM was included, suggesting full mediation. This discovering means that the impact of SL on IGA operates totally by way of EM, highlighting the central function of EM as the inner mechanism linking SL to addictive gaming behaviors. From the attitude of the CIUT framework, persistent SL as a unfavourable emotional expertise reinforces a bent to keep away from real-life stressors, prompting adolescents to make use of Internet gaming as a compensatory technique to alleviate unfavourable feelings (Kardefelt-Winther, 2014). SL drives adolescents to make use of the Internet for leisure, in search of an escape from actuality and a strategy to cut back their emotions of loneliness (Gabbiadini et al., 2021; Killgore et al., 2020). In this course of, adolescents who incessantly flip to gaming to keep away from real-world challenges could develop cognitive distortions associated to gaming, which additional contributes to IGA (Xu et al., 2025). Moreover, heightened EM can result in adolescents’ disengagement from real-world social actions, additional rising their danger of IGA (Zhen et al., 2019). The disappearance of the direct path signifies that the compensatory use of Internet gaming totally accounts for the impact of SL on IGA. This mechanism is in step with prior analysis displaying that EM is a key consider problematic gaming behaviors (Xu et al., 2025), whereas extending earlier work by demonstrating full mediation of SL on IGA by way of EM in a pattern of adolescents. In abstract, this analysis highlights an inside pathway linking SL and adolescent IGA by way of EM. The full mediation emphasizes that interventions aiming to scale back IGA in socially lonely adolescents ought to goal EM instantly, relatively than making an attempt to scale back SL alone. Educational establishments and fogeys ought to offer assist for adolescents in enhancing their social abilities and increasing their social networks, thereby diminishing reliance on gaming as an escape or compensatory habits.

6.3. The mediating function of self-control

The analysis indicated that SC acted as a mediator within the connection between SL and IGA in adolescents, supporting H3. Importantly, the direct path from SL to IGA turned non-significant when SC was included within the mannequin, indicating full mediation. This discovering means that the impact of SL on IGA operates totally by way of deficits in SC, highlighting self-regulatory processes as the important thing inside mechanism linking SL to addictive gaming behaviors. From the attitude of the CIUT framework, SL generates unfavourable emotional experiences that deplete self-regulatory sources, making adolescents extra prone to compensatory Internet gaming (Kardefelt-Winther, 2014). Adolescents with low SC discover it troublesome to control their Internet use rationally and usually tend to change into excessively immersed within the pleasures related to on-line actions (Quancai et al., 2023). The full mediation by way of SC signifies that deficits in self-regulatory capability totally clarify the hyperlink between SL and IGA. This end result aligns with prior analysis displaying that decrease SC is related to maladaptive gaming behaviors in adolescent populations (Hu et al., 2025; Xiang et al., 2022), whereas extending earlier work by offering direct proof of full mediation in a youthful pattern. From a CIUT perspective, social loneliness-induced emotional depletion undermines SC, which totally accounts for the noticed affiliation with IGA. In abstract, this research reveals the inner pathway by way of which SL will increase adolescent IGA by weakening SC. The discovering of full mediation underscores that interventions ought to prioritize strengthening adolescents’ SC skills, improve impulse inhibition, and construct psychological sources to withstand on-line temptations, relatively than solely specializing in decreasing SL.

7.1. Theoretical implications

Grounded within the CIUT, this research systematically constructed and validated a structural mannequin linking SL, IGA, EM, and SC. By incorporating SL, a key psychological variable, into the framework of the CIUT to elucidate the mechanisms underlying adolescent IGA, this research broadens the speculation’s scope past its conventional emphasis on social environmental elements like household and friends. The findings illuminate the inner connections by way of which psychological wants arising from social deprivation are compensated for through Internet gaming, thereby increasing the appliance of the CIUT within the context of Internet dependancy analysis and enriching views on the research of IGA.

In addition, this research confirmed the numerous mediating roles of EM and SC within the affiliation between SL and IGA, highlighting the roles of inside motivation and behavioral regulation in adolescent IGA. By validating these mediating pathways, the research supplies a extra refined mannequin for understanding the psychological processes underlying addictive behaviors.

In sum, this analysis advances our theoretical comprehension of the underlying causes of IGA and stresses the need for future research to look at how people’ inside psychological processes have an effect on their habits, thereby advancing interdisciplinary integration within the fields of Internet use behaviors and psychological well being.

7.2. Practical implications

The findings supply sensible implications for addressing adolescent IGA by specializing in the mediating mechanisms of EM and SC, in mild of the complete mediation outcomes.

First, on the faculty stage, the findings point out that interventions ought to give attention to decreasing escape-motivated gaming and enhancing SC relatively than making an attempt to scale back gaming solely by addressing SL. Because SL influences IGA totally by way of EM and SC, efforts that instantly goal these mediating mechanisms—akin to structured peer interactions to scale back reliance on gaming as an escape, and digital literacy applications to develop more healthy coping methods—are anticipated to be simplest. Schools could present extra alternatives for peer interplay by way of sports activities, arts, science golf equipment, and different structured extracurricular actions, which may also help adolescents cut back escape-motivated gaming. Teachers can also profit from primary coaching to acknowledge indicators of problematic gaming and lack of SC, in order that well timed assist could be supplied.

Second, on the household stage, interventions ought to give attention to enhancing adolescents’ SC and decreasing escape-oriented gaming motives. Parents can assist adolescents by serving to them set up affordable routines for display screen use, research, relaxation, and recreation, and by reinforcing self-regulation abilities in day by day contexts. Efforts ought to goal the mechanisms by way of which SL results in IGA, relatively than making an attempt to instantly cut back loneliness itself.

Finally, on the particular person stage, adolescents could profit from methods that strengthen SC and cut back escape-oriented gaming motives. For instance, they could be inspired to set lifelike limits on gaming time, use self-monitoring instruments, take part in offline actions, and search peer or grownup assist when feeling socially remoted. Since SL doesn’t exert a direct impact on IGA, interventions aimed toward decreasing escapism-driven gaming and enhancing self-regulation are essential, as these are the mechanisms by way of which SL will increase gaming dependancy danger. Prevention and intervention efforts ought to due to this fact place higher emphasis on concentrating on EM and SC, relatively than focusing solely on gaming frequency itself.

7.3. Limitations

This analysis made notable strides in inspecting the hyperlinks between SL, EM, SC, and IGA. Nonetheless, sure limitations have to be acknowledged, and extra research are required to deal with these considerations.

First, this research utilized a cross-sectional analysis design. Although the CIUT supplied a theoretical foundation for the directional assumptions of the variable relationships, and the research examined the mediating results, causal relationships between variables couldn’t be established. Long-term analysis designs are wanted in future research to observe how these variables change over time and uncover the cause-and-effect relationships between them.

Second, self-reported information could also be affected by social desirability and recall biases. While CFA supported the measurement mannequin, PROCESS estimates paths utilizing noticed composite scores and doesn’t account for measurement error. Future analysis might use full SEM to concurrently estimate measurement and structural fashions, and incorporate multi-source information to enhance reliability. In addition, though a proper energy evaluation for the mediation results was not performed, the reasonable R² values for SL → EM (0.160) and SL → SC (0.201) and vital bootstrap CIs recommend the noticed oblique results are significant. Simulation-based energy analyses might additional complement these leads to future research.

Third, this research targeted on adolescents in China. While most scales (SLS, SCS, and IGAS) have been validated in Chinese adolescent populations, the EM subscale of the MOGQ has solely been validated in Chinese college college students, which can restrict cross-cultural measurement equivalence. Additionally, on condition that the SLS was initially developed as a common loneliness measure, it could not totally seize the conceptual distinction between social and emotional loneliness, which might have an effect on the specificity of the noticed relationships. Future analysis might make use of devices that explicitly distinguish social from emotional loneliness, and validate the EM subscale amongst Chinese adolescents to reinforce measurement precision and cross-cultural generalizability. Moreover, to additional enhance the generalizability and cultural relevance of the findings, future research ought to incorporate adolescents from numerous cultural contexts. Although configural invariance throughout gender was supported, stricter types of measurement invariance weren’t totally examined. Future research might additional check metric and scalar invariance throughout gender to strengthen comparability between female and male adolescents.