Comorbidity patterns of Internet-use problems with traditional emotional and behavioral problems among Chinese adolescents: A latent class analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the co-occurring patterns of Internet-use problems and traditional emotional and behavioral problems among Chinese adolescents. Intrapersonal, interpersonal, and environmental factors associated with the comorbidity profiles were also investigated. Latent class analysis was conducted by gender using a large-scale sample of adolescents in Hong Kong (n = 11,887). The three-class solution best fitted the data for both sexes, but different patterns in boys and girls were discernible: INTERNET class was characterized by boys displaying high probabilities of reporting Internet-related problems but low probabilities of having traditional problems. TRADIT class consisted of girls displaying high probabilities of reporting traditional emotional and behavioral problems but low probabilities of having Internet-related problems. TRADIT-INTERNET class included adolescents of both genders with a high probability of having both Internet-related problems and traditional problems. HEALTH class was characterized by participants of both genders with low probabilities of reporting any emotional and behavioral problems. Results of multinomial logistic models indicated that stress and resilience from multiple socio-ecological systems contributed to the different co-occurring patterns among adolescents. The identified patterns and factors will guide the development of cost-effective, efficient, and transdiagnostic interventions specific to different classes of boys and girls.