Abstract

• In this study, sequential explanatory design from quantitative and qualitative mixed approaches was used. Therefore, as the quantitative phase, survey was administered with 2612 university students chosen by multistage sampling technique. As the qualitative phase, individual semi-structured interview was administered with 20 severe internet addicts. Instruments were Revised UCLA Loneliness Scale (Russel, Peplau, & Ferguson, 1978), Student Stress Inventory (Mohamed-Arip, Kamaruaman, Roslan, Ahmad, & Rahman, 2015), Self-control Scale (Tangney, Baumeister, & Boone, 2004), Self-compassion Scale (Neff, 2003), Internet Addiction Test (Young, 1998) and interview questions. In this study, 28 in 100 university students were found to be internet addicts and it was relatively high in comparing with other countries. Therefore, meta-analysis study was firstly conducted to theoretically explore psychological factors influencing internet addiction of university students. Based on it and narrative literature review, four psychological factors (loneliness, stress, self-control, self-compassion) and one internet usage factor (online time) were chosen to empirically explore in Myanmar. According to the results of path-analysis, the best model fit was found among direct/indirect paths of online-time, stress, loneliness, self-control and self-compassion with internet addiction (76% variance explained). To provide more practical implications of this model, qualitative study was extended in this study and it could explain causes of these influencing factors. So, it is hoped this study to be of assistance in suggesting prevention and intervention programs for internet addiction among university students.