Examining the Mediating Role of Dysfunctional Attitudes and Social Comparison in the Relationship Between Perfectionism and Internet Addiction Among Women
Keywords:
Perfectionism, Dysfunctional Attitudes, Social Comparison, Internet Addiction, WomenAbstract
Objective: The present study aimed to examine the mediating role of dysfunctional attitudes and social comparison in the relationship between dimensions of perfectionism and internet addiction among women.
Methodology: This study employed a descriptive–correlational design based on structural equation modeling (SEM). The statistical population consisted of women aged 18 years and older living in Tehran in 2025 who actively used the internet and social media. A total of 431 participants were selected using convenience sampling. Data collection instruments included Young’s Internet Addiction Test, the Multidimensional Perfectionism Scale, the 26-item Dysfunctional Attitude Scale, and the Social Comparison Scale. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 and AMOS version 24. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was conducted to evaluate the factorial structure of the instruments, and SEM was applied to test the conceptual relationships among variables. In addition, the Sobel test was used to assess the significance of mediating effects.
Findings: The findings demonstrated that the proposed conceptual model had an excellent fit with the data (χ²/df=1.058, CFI=0.995, RMSEA=0.012). All direct paths between perfectionism dimensions, dysfunctional attitudes, social comparison, and internet addiction were statistically significant (P<0.001). Socially prescribed perfectionism showed the strongest effects on dysfunctional attitudes (β=0.432) and social comparison (β=0.560). Furthermore, social comparison (β=0.365) and dysfunctional attitudes (β=0.256) significantly predicted internet addiction. Sobel test results confirmed the significant mediating roles of dysfunctional attitudes and social comparison in the relationships between self-oriented perfectionism (Z=6.12), other-oriented perfectionism (Z=4.54), socially prescribed perfectionism (Z=8.91), and internet addiction. The indirect effects were 0.173, 0.119, and 0.315, respectively, indicating partial mediation within the structural model.
Conclusion: The results indicated that perfectionism contributes to internet addiction among women through the reinforcement of dysfunctional attitudes and increased social comparison. Cognitive and social processes appear to play critical roles in the development of problematic internet use. Therefore, interventions aimed at modifying maladaptive beliefs, reducing harmful social comparison, and managing maladaptive perfectionism may help prevent or reduce internet addiction. The findings further emphasize the importance of cognitive–social approaches in understanding behavioral addictions among women.
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