A latent profile transition analysis and influencing factors of internet addiction for adolescents: A short-term longitudinal study

A Hybrid SEM-ANN Approach to Investigate the Internet Addiction Among University Students Based on Psychological Resilience Theory and Cognitive-Behavioral Theory

The internet is now essential in college students' lives, but its overuse is turning into a worldwide issue, notably with rising internet addiction among students. Earlier studies have mainly explored the risk factors of internet addiction, yielding various findings. This study aims to delve into the key factors affecting internet addiction among university students by integrating the theory of psychological resilience with cognitive-behavioral theory. It thoroughly analyzes how self-control, emotional regulation, social support, perceived stress, and psychological resilience influence internet addiction and explores their interactions and underlying mechanisms. The study conveniently selected 999 university students for a survey to measure their self-reported ratings on six constructs: self-control, emotional regulation, perceived stress, psychological resilience, social support, and internet addiction. Employing a Structural Equation Modeling - Artificial Neural Network (SEM-ANN) approach, the study unveiled complex and non-linear relationships between predictors and internet addiction. Results indicated that self-control and psychological resilience significantly reduce internet addiction, while perceived stress notably increases the risk. Notably, emotional regulation and social support did not directly lower the risk of internet addiction. Further analysis revealed that psychological resilience plays a mediating role between self-control, emotional regulation, social support, and internet addiction. Additionally, multilayer perceptron analysis of normalized importance showed self-control as the most critical predictive factor (100%), followed by emotional regulation (9.1%), social support (8.4%), and psychological resilience (5.4%). The study contributes theoretical and practical insights into internet addiction among university students.

The Chain Mediating Effect of Anxiety and Inhibitory Control and the Moderating Effect of Physical Activity Between Bullying Victimization and Internet Addiction in Chinese Adolescents

This study aimed to investigate the chain mediating roles of anxiety and inhibitory control in the relationship between bullying victimization and internet addiction among Chinese adolescents, as well as the moderating effect of physical activity. A cross-sectional design was employed, sampling 1,585 adolescents from 5 provinces in China during February-March 2024. Data on bullying victimization, internet addiction, anxiety, inhibitory control, and physical activity were collected and analyzed using a moderated chain mediation model. The data suggest that bullying victimization is associated with internet addiction, and this association is also mediated by anxiety and inhibitory control. Furthermore, physical activity was found to significantly moderate the relationship between anxiety and inhibitory control. This study contributes to the understanding of how bullying victimization, anxiety, and inhibitory control are interrelated in the context of internet addiction development, with physical activity influencing this interplay. It highlights the potential of physical activity as a factor in mitigating the impact of bullying and its association with internet addiction.

Trajectories and Influences of Depression in Adolescents: A Latent Profile Transition Analysis Study

Depression has become increasingly prevalent among adolescents, posing significant challenges for mental health professionals. While most studies on depression adopt a cross-sectional perspective or a variable-centred approach, these methods often fail to illuminate the developmental trajectories of depression in individuals. We employed Latent Profile Transition Analysis (LPTA), a person-centred approach, to analyse longitudinal data from a large adolescent sample (N = 978; Mage = 16.26, SD = 0.89; 52.2% females). This study aimed to identify distinct subgroups of depression and observe transitions between these groups over time, considering stress, anxiety, and rumination as covariates to predict these transitions and aid in the development of targeted interventions. We identified three distinct subgroups: 'low/no depression', 'moderate depression', and 'high depression'. Individuals in the low/no depression and moderate depression groups displayed a predominant tendency toward stability rather than change. Conversely, individuals in the high depression group showed a high probability of transitioning to the moderate depression group. Stress, rumination, and anxiety were significant predictors of transitions into more severe depressive groups. Notably, the predictive power of rumination diminished over time. This study relied solely on self-reported measures, which may introduce response bias. This study reveals dynamic trajectories of depression among adolescents using a person-centred approach, emphasising the importance of closely monitoring those in the moderate depression subgroup. Stress, anxiety, and rumination emerged as crucial predictors of transitions in depression severity, underscoring the need for targeted early interventions.

Anxiety mediated the relationship between bullying victimization and internet addiction in adolescents, and family support moderated the relationship

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to discuss anxiety in mediating role between bullying victimization and adolescent internet addiction, and the moderating role of family support between bullying victimization and adolescent anxiety.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 5 provinces of China by convenience sampling from February to March 2024. A total of 1395 participants (599 boys and 796 girls) with an average age of 15.86 ± 0.74 years were included in the final analysis. Subjective data on bullying victimization, internet addiction, anxiety, and family support were collected and analyzed. A moderated mediation model was constructed.

RESULTS

After controlling for age and gender, bullying victimization was found to be a significant predictor of internet addiction (β = 0.130, p < 0.001). Anxiety has a complete mediating effect between bullying victimization and adolescent internet addiction. Specifically, bullying victimization significantly predicted adolescent anxiety (β = 0.264, p < 0.001). anxiety significantly predicted adolescent internet addiction (β = 0.417, p < 0.001). Family support alleviated the relationship between bullying victimization and anxiety (β= -0.032, p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Bullying victimization can predict internet addiction through anxiety in adolescents, and family support can alleviate the predictive relationship between bullying victimization and adolescent anxiety. It is suggested that guardians should provide adequate support to adolescent bullying victimization in order to reduce the negative impact of bullying victimization on adolescents and prevent the occurrence of internet addiction.

Latent profiles and determinants of postoperative sleep quality in elective surgery patients

It is crucial to determine the potential subgroups of sleep disturbances in patients undergoing elective surgery based on the importance of symptom clusters and individual characteristics in order to develop targeted symptom management plans. This study explored the potential categories of postoperative sleep disturbances in patients undergoing elective surgery through latent profile analysis, and explored the influencing factors of each category. A total of 400 eligible elective surgery patients were included in the analysis, and three potential subgroups were identified: mild sleep disturbance group (c1 = 140,35.0%), moderate sleep sleep disturbance group (c2 = 177,44.2%), and severe sleep disturbance group (c3 = 83,20.8%). It was found that the higher the BMI, the greater the probability of patients belonging to the moderate sleep disturbance group (OR = 1.114, P = 0.002) and the severe sleep disturbance group (OR = 1.258, P < 0.001),the longer the duration of anesthesia the greater the likelihood of patients belonging to the severe sleep disturbance group (OR = 1.004,P = 0.011), the greater the pain the greater the probability of patients belonging to the moderate sleep disturbance group (OR = 1.590,P < 0.001) and severe sleep disturbance group (OR = 1.785,P < 0.001), and the higher the anxiety level the greater the probability that patients were in the moderate sleep disturbance group (OR = 1.135,P = 0.007) and severe sleep disturbance group (OR = 1.261,P < 0.001).

The mediating role of inhibitory control and the moderating role of family support between anxiety and Internet addiction in Chinese adolescents

OBJECTIVE

While some studies have explored the influencing factors of adolescent internet addiction, the risk factors and protective factors still require further discussion. This study aims to examine the mediating role of inhibitory control between anxiety and internet addiction among Chinese adolescents, as well as the moderating role of family support in the relationship between anxiety and inhibitory control.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study was conducted through convenience sampling from February to March 2024 in seven schools across five provinces in China. A total of 1677 participants (697 males and 980 females) with an average age of 15.86 ± 0.74 years were included in the study. Self-reported data on internet addiction, anxiety, inhibitory control, and family support were collected, followed by correlation analysis and moderated mediation model testing.

RESULTS

After controlling for participants' gender and age, the study found that anxiety could significantly predict adolescent internet addiction directly (β = 0.429, p < 0.001). When inhibitory control was introduced as a mediating variable, the predictive effect of anxiety on adolescent internet addiction remained significant (β = 0.317, p < 0.001). Additionally, family support alleviated the relationship between anxiety and adolescents' inhibitory control (β = -0.057, p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Anxiety can predict adolescent internet addiction through inhibitory control, while family support can moderate the predictive relationship between anxiety and adolescents' inhibitory control. It is recommended that guardians pay attention to adolescents' negative emotions, provide adequate support, guide emotional regulation, and prevent the occurrence of internet addiction.

Anxiety, inhibitory control, physical activity, and internet addiction in Chinese adolescents: a moderated mediation model

BACKGROUND

Adolescents may have anxiety due to a series of events such as school work and social interaction. Improper handling of anxiety often leads to some negative consequences, such as Internet addiction. Therefore, this study further explored the relationship between anxiety and Internet addiction, as well as the mediating role of inhibitory control between the two, and also considered the moderating role of physical activity between anxiety and inhibitory control.

METHODS

A total of 1607 adolescents, comprising 664 boys and 943 girls with an average age of 15.86 years (SD = 0.73), from Shandong, Shanxi, Hebei, and Hunan provinces completed a self-report survey on physical activity, anxiety, inhibitory control, and Internet addiction. Descriptive analysis, correlation analysis, and mediation test were conducted.

RESULTS

The results revealed a significant positive correlation between anxiety and adolescent internet addiction (r = 0.413, p < 0.001), and a significant negative correlation with inhibitory control (r = -0.423, p < 0.001). Inhibitory control was found to be significantly positively correlated with physical exercise (r = 0.143, p < 0.001) and significantly negatively correlated with internet addiction (r = -0.368, p < 0.001). After controlling for demographic variables, anxiety significantly positively predicted Internet addiction (β = 0.311, p < 0.001) in adolescents, and it also indirectly predicted Internet addiction through inhibitory control (β = -0.231, p < 0.001). Physical activity significantly weakened the predictive effect of anxiety on inhibitory control (β = -0.092, p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

This study further explored the issue of psychological mechanisms between anxiety and Internet addiction in adolescents, and added that physical activity alleviates the negative effects of anxiety on adolescents. Schools and families are encouraged to promote physical exercise among adolescents to alleviate the influence of negative emotions on their psychological and behavioral health.

The chain mediating effect of anxiety and inhibitory control between bullying victimization and internet addiction in adolescents

Although some studies have revealed the association between bullying victimization and internet addiction in adolescents, the mediating and moderating factors between the two need to be further discussed. This study aimed to discuss the chain mediating role of anxiety and inhibitory control between bullying victimization and internet addiction among Chinese adolescents. A cross-sectional study was conducted in seven schools in five provinces of China by convenience sampling from February to March 2024. A total of 1673 participants (695 boys and 978 girls) with an average age of 15.86 ± 0.74 years were included in this study. Subjective data on bullying victimization, internet addiction, anxiety, inhibitory control were collected and analyzed, and a mediation model test was carried out. After controlling for age and gender, bullying victimization was found to be a significant predictor of internet addiction (β = 0.098, p < 0.001). However, when anxiety and inhibitory control were added, the predictive effect was no longer significant (β = 0.006, p > 0.05). Bullying victimization can predict internet addiction through anxiety and inhibitory control. It is suggested that guardians should provide adequate support to adolescent bullying victims in order to reduce the negative impact of bullying victimization on adolescents and prevent the occurrence of internet addiction.

Identifying Internet addiction profiles among adolescents using latent profile analysis: Relations to aggression, depression, and anxiety

BACKGROUND

While many studies have established a positive correlation between adolescents' internet addiction and mental health problems, most of these studies have overlooked the internal heterogeneity of Internet addiction. This study aims to identify latent profiles among adolescents based on their Internet addiction and to examine the differences in aggression, depression, and anxiety across these profiles.

METHODS

We conducted a survey involving 7422 adolescents and administered the Young's Internet Addiction Test, Aggression Behavior Questionnaire, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale. Latent profile analysis was utilized to categorize Internet addiction profiles among adolescents. Associations between Internet addiction profiles and related factors were examined using the Bolck-Croon-Hagenaars method.

RESULTS

Latent profile analysis suggested four profiles of Internet addiction, which were labeled: Regular, Risk, Low Internet addiction, and Internet addiction. The Internet addiction profile showed higher levels of aggression, depression, and anxiety than the Low Internet addiction profile. The Low Internet addiction profile had higher levels of aggression, depression, and anxiety than the Risk profile. The Risk profile demonstrated higher levels of aggression, depression, and anxiety when compared to the Regular profile.

LIMITATIONS

Limitations include the cross-sectional design and the self-report measures.

CONCLUSIONS

The identified Internet addiction profiles offer differential predictions for aggression, depression, and anxiety. These results underscore the significance of employing latent profile analysis when exploring the associations between Internet addiction and mental health issues.