Predicting Emotional Separation in Light of Psychological Loneliness and Internet Addiction Among a Sample of Married Graduate Students at Al-Quds Open University

Abstract

This study aimed at predict emotional detachment in light of psychological loneliness and internet addiction among a sample of married postgraduate students at Al-Quds Open University. A descriptive correlational approach was employed, and the study was conducted on a convenience sample of (122) married postgraduate students. To achieve the study objectives, three scales were used: The emotional detachment, the psychological loneliness, the internet addiction. The results indicated a moderate level of emotional detachment among married students, with an overall mean score of (2.34) and a percentage of (46.8%). Similarly, a moderate level of psychological loneliness was observed, with a mean score of (2.44) and a percentage of 48.8%. Additionally, internet addiction was found to be at a moderate level, with a mean score of (2.57) and a percentage of (51.4%). Multiple regression analysis results showed no multicollinearity issues, indicating the absence of strong correlations between predictors. The findings further revealed that psychological loneliness had a strong positive impact on emotional detachment (B = 0.731, p < .001), meaning that a one-unit increase in psychological loneliness was associated with a 0.731-unit increase in emotional detachment. In contrast, internet addiction had a weaker positive effect (B = 0.269, p = .001). Moreover, the impact of psychological loneliness (β = 0.606) exceeded that of internet addiction (β = 0.245), confirming that the former is the strongest predictor of emotional detachment variance.