Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Jan 18;17(2). pii: E633. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17020633.
Tang G1, Hung EPW1, Au-Yeung HC1, Yuen S2.
Abstract
This research examines the mediating role of the tendency for Internet addiction, fear of missing out (FOMO), and psychological well-being in the relationship between online exposure to movement-related information and support for radical actions. A questionnaire survey that targets tertiary students was conducted during the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill (Anti-ELAB) Movement (N = 290). The findings reveal the mediating effect of Internet addiction and depression as the main relationship. These findings enrich the literature of political communication by addressing the political impact of Internet use beyond digital architecture. From the perspective of psychology, this research echoes the literature that concerns depression symptoms driven by a protest environment. Radical political attitudes driven by depression during protests should also be concerned based on the findings of this survey.
KEYWORDS: Hong Kong; Internet addiction; depression; radicalization; social movement
PMID: 31963755
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