Abstract
The present study was conducted with the aim of presenting a causal model of the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and perceived social support with internet addiction among university students, with the mediating role of stress coping strategies. The research method was descriptive–correlational using structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of students of the North Tehran Branch of Islamic Azad University during the 2024–2025 academic year. From this population, 301 participants were selected through multistage cluster sampling as the sample group and completed the Young Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Young Schema Questionnaire (1998), the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) by Zimet, and the Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations – Short Form (CISS-SF) by Endler and Parker. The obtained data were analyzed using structural equation modeling with AMOS version 26. The findings indicated that early maladaptive schemas, emotion-focused coping, and avoidance coping were positively associated with internet addiction, whereas perceived social support and problem-focused coping were negatively associated with internet addiction among students (p < 0.001). All three coping styles significantly and positively mediated the relationship between early maladaptive schemas and internet addiction in students (p = 0.001). Furthermore, all three coping styles significantly and negatively mediated the relationship between perceived social support and internet addiction (p = 0.001). Based on the results of the present study, early maladaptive schemas are associated with increased internet addiction, while perceived social support is associated with its reduction. Emotion-focused and avoidance coping styles strengthen this relationship, whereas problem-focused coping weakens it. Therefore, enhancing problem-focused coping skills is essential for the prevention and reduction of internet addiction. Strengthening problem-focused coping skills among students and within social networks may help reduce internet addiction. These findings can be utilized by psychologists and family counselors