the mediating role of internet addiction in the relationship between self-control and aggression in individuals with anxiety disorders

Purpose: the objective of this study was to examine the mediating role of internet addiction in the relationship between self-control and aggression among individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders. methodology: this cross-sectional study involved 220 individuals diagnosed with anxiety disorders, selected through purposive convenience sampling from psychiatric clinics in tehran in 2023. the primary data were collected using three standardized questionnaires: young’s internet addiction questionnaire (2009), buss and perry’s aggression questionnaire (1992), and tangney’s self-control scale (2004). the data were analyzed using structural equation modeling (sem) via amos software version 23 to assess the direct and indirect effects of self-control on aggression, with internet addiction as the mediator. findings: the results indicated a significant negative direct effect of self-control on aggression (β = -0.22, p = 0.008) and on internet addiction (β = -0.29, p = 0.001). additionally, a significant positive direct effect of internet addiction on aggression was observed (β = 0.46, p = 0.001). the mediation analysis confirmed that internet addiction significantly mediated the relationship between self-control and aggression, indicating that individuals with lower self-control were more likely to develop internet addiction, which in turn increased their levels of aggression. conclusion: the findings suggest that internet addiction plays a crucial mediating role in the relationship between self-control and aggression in individuals with anxiety disorders. interventions targeting internet addiction and enhancing self-control may be effective strategies for reducing aggression in this population. these results underscore the importance of a holistic approach in treating anxiety disorders, addressing both self-regulatory capacities and maladaptive coping mechanisms.