Rejection Sensitivity and Problematic Internet Use Among Medical Students: A Moderated Mediation Model Involving Loneliness and Self-Control

The study involving 435 medical students examines the link between rejection sensitivity and problematic internet use (PIU), with loneliness as a mediator and self-control as a moderator. It finds that rejection sensitivity predicts both loneliness and PIU, with loneliness mediating the relationship, suggesting that students with high rejection sensitivity may experience increased loneliness, leading to greater internet use. Self-control moderates the impact of loneliness on PIU, indicating that students with higher self-control are less likely to develop PIU despite loneliness. These findings suggest that interventions targeting self-control and loneliness could help reduce PIU among students sensitive to rejection. Limitations include the study's cross-sectional design and its focus on a single city in China.