Relationship between Internet addiction and body mass index and the predictive role of emotion dysregulation

In recent years, the widespread use of the Internet has led to increasing concerns about problematic behaviors related to excessive Internet use and their potential consequences. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between Internet addiction (IA), body mass index (BMI), and emotion dysregulation (ED). Specifically, the study aimed to determine if IA significantly predicts obesity and if both Internet addiction and obesity can be significantly predicted by ED. 367 school-attending adolescents (Mage = 13.35; SD = 0.82; 49% girls) in Tekab participated in the study. Participants completed the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) and the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), while BMI was calculated using self-reported data to assess their obesity levels. The results indicated that ED significantly predicted both IA and increased BMI levels (p < 0.001). Furthermore, IA also significantly predicted elevated BMI levels (p < 0.001). Our findings showed that ED significantly predicted both higher IA and BMI values, while IA also significantly predicted elevated BMI levels These results have important implications for treatment. To address excessive Internet use or overeating behavior in individuals with either condition, it may be necessary to target the underlying emotional dysregulation that contributes to the problem.

Effect of mindfulness on online impulse buying: Moderated mediation model of problematic internet use and emotional intelligence

Introduction

Online impulse buying behavior is an unplanned urge to buy a product or service in an online setting and it has several negative consequences for customers, such as guilt and financial distress, and e-commerce firms, such as higher returns and customer complaints. Evidently, it is important to examine the various psychological processes which may assist in a better understanding, therefore addressing the high prevalence of online impulse buying. This study builds upon self-regulation theory to explore how mindfulness influences online impulse buying, and examines problematic internet use as a mediator in the relationship between mindfulness and online impulse buying. Further, this study investigates how emotional intelligence as a moderator plays the role of a suppressant on the adverse impact of problematic Internet use which fuels online impulse buying.

Method

A total of 598 individuals working with various servicebased industries responded to the questionnaire. Multiple regression and moderated mediation analysis was used using SPSS and AMOS for analyzing the data.

Result

Problematic internet use mediates the relationship between mindfulness and online impulse buying behavior. Emotional intelligence negatively moderates the relationship between problematic internet use and online impulse buying behavior.

Discussion

This study findings outlined the inverse relationship of mindfulness & online impulse buying, along with the mediating effect of problematic internet use between mindfulness and online impulse buying. Further, this study showed how emotional intelligence played an important role as a moderator by suppressing the adverse impact of problematic Internet use and preventing online impulse buying. The study offers implications to online marketers in regulating the unplanned purchase process-while minimizing uninhibited buying behavior that leads to regret, and the subsequent intention to return products. Further, social and theoretical implications are discussed.

A mixed-methods study of problematic social media use, attention dysregulation, and social media use motives

Problematic social media use (PSMU) refers to excessive uncontrolled use of social media which impacts upon daily functioning (Blackwell et al., 2017). Self-regulation is central to the development and experience of PSMU, and conceptually interrelates with individual usage motivations (Reinecke et al., 2022). While there is a growing body of research on social media use motivations, how usage motivations and self-regulation combined influence PSMU is not well understood. There are also persistent questions around the effectiveness of addiction-based measures of PSMU. The quantitative component of this nested mixed-methods study (N = 607) employed hierarchical regression and structural equation modelling, principally identifying that impulsive social media usage mediates the pathway between perceived executive/attentional functioning and the Bergen Social Media Addiction Scale (BSMAS, Andreassen et al., 2012, 2016), a popular tool used to measure PSMU. In contrast, social-engagement motivations had a negative influence on the BSMAS. The qualitative component, comprising interview/open-ended questionnaire, explored individual experiences self-regulating social media use. Participants (N = 24) were recruited from the survey study, based on meeting screening criteria for executive dysfunction (Adult Self-Report ADHD Scale, Kessler et al., 2005), with sub-groups defined by top and bottom quartile BSMAS scores (evenly grouped). Thematic analysis found that most individuals with attention dysregulation, regardless of their BSMAS category, perceive self-regulation of social media use as highly challenging and effortful, describing broadly problematic relationship with social media. They also described rich combination of motivations and context of using social media, and strategies for managing use. This research questions the effectiveness of the BSMAS as a measure of general PSMU (lacking a formed self-regulation component), especially in individuals with attentional dysregulation. Future research investigating self-regulation strategies and focusing on characteristics of positive social media use is needed.

Is Social Capital a Key Factor to enhance Firm’s Performance via Manager’s Intangible Capabilities?

Purpose:

The purpose of the study is to analyse the role of internal social capital and external social capital in determining the financial and non-financial performance of the firm and the effect of manager’s intangible capabilities on internal social capital and external social capital of firm in the context of the manufacturing sector of India.

Design/methodology/approach:

The data for this study is collected from 417 managers of manufacturing firms through a structured questionnaire and is analysed through SPSS and AMOS by performing confirmatory factor analysis and structural equation modelling.

Findings:

Findings reveal that a manager’s business experience, financial literacy and intellectual capital significantly enhance the firm’s internal and external social capital. Furthermore, it has been found that the internal social capital of the firm has the potential to enhance the performance of the firm in financial and non-financial terms. The external social capital also significantly derives from the firm’s financial performance; however, it has not significantly impacted its non-financial performance in the current study.

Research limitations/implications:

These findings provide many implications in theoretical and practical terms because the literature regarding social capital and the linkage among social capital, intangible capabilities and firm performance will be enhanced. The strategymakers and policymakers can also benefit from this study’s implications for making better strategies and policies regarding social capital and the firm’s performance.

Originality/value:

Past studies, though, examined the influence of social capital on business performance. However, no prior research addresses the phenomenon through which social capital can determine business performance while undertaking the role of a manager’s intangible capabilities in such a model. Therefore, the current study is the first to study the interrelationship among the manager’s intangible capabilities, social capital, and firm performance.