Latent profiles of problematic internet use and their six-month subsequent psychopathology outcomes

Q1 Psychology

Addictive Behaviors Reports Pub Date : 2025-04-13 DOI:10.1016/j.abrep.2025.100607

Yi Wang , Brian J. Hall , Yuran Chen , Chun Chen

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

Problematic Internet Use (PIU) has many adverse effects on youth mental health, including heightened risks of depression and anxiety. However, few studies have systematically investigated the internal heterogeneity of PIU symptoms among rural Chinese adolescents. Data was collected from 5,271 rural Chinese adolescents from two secondary schools in Guizhou and Sichuan at two waves. This study aimed to identify PIU profiles at T1 and examine their relationships with subsequent anxiety, depression, and stress after six months at T2.

Methods

A Latent Profile Analysis (LPA) was conducted to first identify PIU symptom profiles. Then, a “three-step” logistic regression mixed model was conducted to explore the association between PIU patterns and demographic correlates. Anxiety, depression, and stress symptoms collected at the second wave were compared across PIU profiles by using a Bolck-Croon-Hagenaars (BCH) approach.

Results

The study found that (1) The patterns of PIU among rural adolescents could be divided into four subgroups: low PIU group (57.18%), medium PIU group (15.65%), high PIU group (9.01%), and self-blame group (18.16%), which is a uniquely identified group. (2) Being female, an ethnic minority, living off-campus, having left-behind experiences, and having fewer siblings were risk factors for high PIU group membership. (3) The order of severity for anxiety, depression, and stress was as follows: high PIU, medium PIU, self-blame, and low PIU groups. (4) The self-blame group had relatively lower anxiety, depression, and stress scores than the medium PIU group, despite the fact that the self-blame group had higher PIU scores than the medium PIU group, which further strengthens the importance of using a person-centered approach.

Conclusions

Addressing the profiles of PIU is vital for rural Chinese adolescent mental health, necessitating tailored interventions.

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问题网络使用的潜在特征及其六个月后的精神病理结果

目的问题性网络使用对青少年心理健康有许多不良影响，包括抑郁和焦虑的风险增加。然而，很少有研究系统地调查中国农村青少年PIU症状的内部异质性。数据来自贵州和四川两所中学的5271名中国农村青少年。本研究旨在确定T1时的PIU概况，并在T2六个月后检查其与随后的焦虑、抑郁和压力的关系。方法采用潜在特征分析（LPA），首次识别PIU症状特征。然后，采用“三步”逻辑回归混合模型探讨PIU模式与人口统计学相关因素之间的关系。采用bolock - croon - hagenaars （BCH）方法比较第二波收集的焦虑、抑郁和压力症状。结果研究发现：(1)农村青少年的PIU模式可分为低PIU组（57.18%）、中PIU组（15.65%）、高PIU组（9.01%）和自责组（18.16%）4个亚组，其中自责组是唯一被识别的群体。(2)女性、少数民族、住在校外、有过留守经历、兄弟姐妹较少是PIU高群体成员的危险因素。(3)焦虑、抑郁和压力的严重程度依次为：高、中、自责、低。(4)自责组的焦虑、抑郁和压力得分均低于中等PIU组，尽管自责组的PIU得分高于中等PIU组，这进一步强化了以人为本的重要性。结论解决PIU问题对中国农村青少年的心理健康至关重要，需要有针对性的干预措施。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Addictive Behaviors Reports Medicine-Psychiatry and Mental Health

CiteScore

6.80

自引率

0.00%

发文量

审稿时长

71 days

期刊介绍： Addictive Behaviors Reports is an open-access and peer reviewed online-only journal offering an interdisciplinary forum for the publication of research in addictive behaviors. The journal accepts submissions that are scientifically sound on all forms of addictive behavior (alcohol, drugs, gambling, Internet, nicotine and technology) with a primary focus on behavioral and psychosocial research. The emphasis of the journal is primarily empirical. That is, sound experimental design combined with valid, reliable assessment and evaluation procedures are a requisite for acceptance. We are particularly interested in ''non-traditional'', innovative and empirically oriented research such as negative/null data papers, replication studies, case reports on novel treatments, and cross-cultural research. Studies that might encourage new lines of inquiry as well as scholarly commentaries on topical issues, systematic reviews, and mini reviews are also very much encouraged. We also welcome multimedia submissions that incorporate video or audio components to better display methodology or findings.