Psychological Development and Education ›› 2015, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (6): 685-693.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2015.06.07

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Internet Use and Online Altruistic Behavior in College Students:The Role of Internet Use Self-efficacy and Gender

LIU Qinxue1,2, CHEN Wu1,2, ZHOU Zongkui1,2   

  1. 1. Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behaivor(CCNU), Ministry of Education, Wuhan 430079, China;
    2. School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, China
  • Online:2015-11-15 Published:2015-11-15

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Abstract: The present study examined whether Internet use self-efficacy mediated the relationship between Internet use and online altruistic behavior, and whether this mediating process was moderated by gender. 562 college students in Hubei province completed anonymous questionnaires regarding Internet altruistic behavior, Internet use self-efficacy and Internet use. The results showed that males scored higher on online altruistic behavior, Internet use self-efficacy, online game behavior, and Internet information behavior than females, but there was no gender difference in online social interaction. Internet use, including online social interaction, Internet information behavior, online game behavior, was positively correlated with Internet use self-efficacy and online altruistic behavior; Internet use self-efficacy was positively correlated with online altruistic behavior. The positive association between Internet use and online altruistic behavior was mediated by Internet use self-efficacy. Moreover, the mediating effect of Internet use self-efficacy was moderated by gender, and this mediating effect was stronger for males than that for female.

Key words: online altruistic behavior, Internet use, Internet use self-efficacy, gender, mediating effect

CLC Number: 

  • B844
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