Psychological Development and Education ›› 2016, Vol. 32 ›› Issue (1): 98-105.doi: 10.16187/j.cnki.issn1001-4918.2016.01.13

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The Relationship between College Students' Online Identity Experiment and Self-identity:The Role of Online Social Tendency and Compulsive Internet Use

ZHANG Mei1, ZHANG Yue1, XIN Ziqiang1, ZHANG Qiaohong2   

  1. 1. Department of Psychology at School of Social Development, Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing 100081;
    2. Law School, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875
  • Online:2016-01-15 Published:2016-01-15

Abstract: Based on the controversial results between online identity experiment and self-identity, this study constructed a moderated model and a mediation model to examine whether the relationship between online identity experiment and self-identity was moderated by the online social tendency and was mediated by the compulsive internet use. Online Identity Experiments Scale, Self-identity Scale, Internet Behaviors Questionnaire and Compulsive Internet Use Scale were administrated to 275 college students. The results indicated that:(1) the relationship between the online identity experiment and self-identity was moderated by the online social tendency. For the below-the-line orientation group, who had more friends in real life rather than online, online identity experiment significantly negatively predicted college students' self-identity. However, for the online orientation group, who had more friends online rather than the real life, although high online identity experiment still significantly negatively predicted the self-identity, moderate online identity experiment was positively associated with self-identity; (2) compulsive internet use played completely mediating role between online identity experiment and self-identity. In sum, online identity experiment was harmful to the development of college students' self-identity as a whole, but moderate amount online identity experiment activities could plays a positive role in the development of self-identity.

Key words: online identity experiment, self-identity, compulsive internet use, online social tendency

CLC Number: 

  • B844

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