Internet addiction is an increasingly prevalent issue among university students, which can have negative effects on their academic performance and psychological well-being. The aim of this study was to examine the mediating role of internet addiction in the relationship between the satisfaction of basic psychological needs (autonomy, competence, and relatedness) and academic procrastination among students. The study involved 247 students, and the following instruments were used: the Internet Addiction Test (IAT), the Academic Procrastination Scale, and the Basic Psychological Needs Satisfaction Scale. The results showed that the satisfaction of autonomy and competence negatively predicted academic procrastination, while internet addiction contributed to explaining procrastination beyond basic psychological needs. Mediation analysis confirmed that internet addiction mediates the relationship between the satisfaction of these needs and academic procrastination. Specifically, the satisfaction of autonomy and competence had indirect effects on academic procrastination through internet addiction. Contrary to expectations, the satisfaction of relatedness did not show a significant direct or mediating effect on academic procrastination.

Internet addiction, academic procrastination, basic psychological needs, autonomy, competence, relatedness, self-determination theory