Horizon of Medical Education Development

Horizon of Medical Education Development

The Role of Shame/Deficiency Schema, Basic Psychological Needs and Psychological Flexibility in Predicting Addiction to Virtual Networks in Students

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Samaneh Zavar 1
Amir Karami 2
Mahdiyeh Norouzi 3
1 Department of Psychology, Hakim Toos Higher Education Institute, Mashhad, Iran.
2 Department of Psychology, Hekmat Razavi Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran.
3 Department of Counseling, Hekmat Razavi Institute of Higher Education, Mashhad, Iran.
10.22038/hmed.2025.84331.1445
Abstract
Introduction: The growing prevalence of internet addiction among university students poses a significant threat to their mental health and academic functioning. Understanding the role of early maladaptive schemas, unfulfilled basic needs, and deficits in psychological adaptability is crucial for developing effective preventive and therapeutic interventions. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the role of shame/deficiency schema, basic psychological needs, and psychological flexibility in predicting addiction to virtual networks in students.
Materials & Methods: The present study was a cross-sectional research. The statistical population of the research was made up of female and male students of Mashhad city in the academic year of 2023-2024, and 200 of them were selected by available sampling method. The research tools were Young Schema Questionnaires (YSQ-SF), Basic Psychological Needs (BPNS), Psychological Flexibility (P-PPFI), Addiction to mobile-based social networks. Data were analyzed by stepwise regression test and Pearson correlation with SPSS-26 statistical software
Results: The results of the study showed that the schema of defect and shame (r=0.187, p
Keywords
Shame Personal AutonomyAdaptability
Psychological Behavior
Addictive
Horizon of Medical Education Development
Volume 17, Issue 2
Spring 2026
Pages 67-79