Politically Motivated Internet Addiction: Relationships among Online Information Exposure, Internet Addiction, FOMO, Psychological Well-being, and Radicalism in Massive Political Turbulence

Gary Tang, Eva P. W. Hung, Ho-Kong Christopher Au-Yeung and Samson Yuen
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Gary Tang: Department of Social Science, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Eva P. W. Hung: Department of Social Science, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Ho-Kong Christopher Au-Yeung: Department of Social Science, The Hang Seng University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
Samson Yuen: Department of Political Science, Lingnan University, Hong Kong, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-13

Abstract: This research examines the mediating role of the tendency for Internet addiction, fear of missing out (FOMO), and psychological well-being in the relationship between online exposure to movement-related information and support for radical actions. A questionnaire survey that targets tertiary students was conducted during the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill (Anti-ELAB) Movement (N = 290). The findings reveal the mediating effect of Internet addiction and depression on the main relationship. These findings enrich the literature of political communication by addressing the political impact of Internet use beyond digital architecture. From the perspective of psychology, this research echoes the literature that concerns depression symptoms driven by a protest environment. Radical political attitudes driven by depression during protests should also be concerned based on the findings of this survey.

Keywords: Internet addiction; depression; radicalization; social movement; Hong Kong (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (5)

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