Not all IT addictions are handled equally: guilt-vs shame-driven coping with IT addiction

Purpose We build on the transactional model of stress and coping and the appraisal theory of emotions to theorize how users cognitively and emotionally cope with IT addiction-induced stress, distinguish between the roles of guilt and shame in shaping the coping responses and their effects on one’s psychological well-being. Design/methodology/approach We test our theory via two complementary empirical studies in the context of social networking sites (SNS). Study 1 ( n  = 462) adopts a variable-centered approach using structural equation modeling to validate the research model. Study 2 ( n  = 409) uses Latent Profile Analysis to identify a typology of SNS users based on Study 1’s findings. Findings This paper provides a model of guilt-vs shame-driven cognitive-emotional coping with IT addiction and its effects on users’ psychological well-being. It also offers a typology of SNS users on this basis. Originality/value This paper sheds light on guilt-vs shame-driven coping with IT addiction and its consequences on users’ psychological well-being and identifies distinct classes of users based on their coping choices and their consequences.