Cyber Times International Journal of Technology & Management

Internet use has grown faster in recent years and has become an indispensable part of many people lives. Psychologists have been aware of the negative impacts of its overuse, and the related physical and psychological problems. So the present research examines the main effects of self-efficacy on depression, subjective happiness, satisfaction with life and online flow experience, and the mediating effect of online flow experience on the relationship between the aforementioned variables. The study was conducted among 132 students from a premier Engineering College in India. General Self Efficacy Scale, Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale, Subjective Happiness Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale and Flow Scale were used in data collection. There were two phases of data collection. Self-efficacy (IV) and depression, subjective happiness, satisfaction with life (DVs) were obtained in the first phase, and then the subjects were asked to browse the net for one month on a minimum of three hours per day. Then in the second phase of data collection, online flow experience (mediator) and DVs were obtained from the same subjects. Data were analysed using regression analysis. The results revealed a positive significant relationship between self-efficacy, subjective happiness, satisfaction with life and online flow experience, and a negative significant relationship between self-efficacy and depression. A significant mediating effect of online flow experience is also obtained. As it is an emerging area, understanding of life of virtual humans becomes essential.