Unraveling the core symptoms across distinct trajectories of problematic Internet use among 27,577 adolescents: Cross-lagged panel network analyses

Abstract

Problematic Internet Use (PIU) often begins in adolescence and develops along diverse trajectories. Understanding the interaction between PIU symptoms and identifying the core PIU symptoms that drive distinct trajectories among adolescents are crucial. We employed cross-lagged panel network analyses to examine temporal relationships of PIU symptoms among Chinese adolescents across four developmental trajectories over two time points. A total of 27,577 adolescents (Mean age = 13.8, SD = 1.5) participated in this study. Demographic variables and PIU symptoms were collected from December 17 to 26, 2021 (T1) and from May 17 to June 5, 2022 (T2). The symptom “Reluctant to stop” in the resilient group and “Uncontrollable checking” in the alleviating group at T1 were most predictive of remission of other symptoms at T2, while “Empty life” in the deteriorating group and “Feeling of missing” in the persistent dysfunction group were most strongly associated with worsening of other PIU symptoms. Improving self-control is likely to promote healthy and beneficial Internet use among adolescents, while enhancing social connection and fostering exercise habits may help mitigate negative emotions and reduce the emergence of additional PIU symptoms among adolescents who have developed PIU.