According to the cognitive-behavioral model of pathological Internet use,the main goal of the present study was to explore the underlying associations between social avoidance and internet overuse.A sample of 850 volunteers completed self-report measures.The results from structural equation model showed that self-efficacy beliefs in managing negative affect and shyness mediated the relationship between social avoidance and internet overuse.The current study revealed the underlying mechanism of the effect of social avoidance on internet overuse,which enriched the research on regulatory emotional self-efficacy and shyness.