Technology addiction

This study examines the mediating role of self-handicapping in the balance between technology addiction and psychological well-being in university students. 162 university students participated in this descriptive-correlational study between April and June 2023. Technology Addiction Scale, Psychological Well-Being Scale and Self-Handicapping Scale were used. AMOS program were used to evaluate the mediating effect in the research. The study showed that technology addiction reduces psychological well-being and increases self-handicapping tendency and that higher self-handicapping tendency leads to decreased psychological well-being in university students. When the mediating effect was examined, self-handicapping was a full mediator in the balance between technology addiction and psychological well-being (β:-0.216; p<0.001). Accordingly, increasing technology addiction increases self-handicapping tendency, and increasing self-handicapping tendency reduces psychological well-being. Based on these results, it is recommended that health professionals encourage the correct use of technology to improve the psychological well-being of university students and plan awareness interventions to reduce self-handicapping tendencies.