Network Analysis of Problematic Internet Use and Adolescent Psychological Issues: The Role of Socioeconomic Status

This study examined the interplay between anxiety, depression, rumination, and problematic internet use (PIU) among 24,470 Chinese adolescents (mean age = 14.37 years; 51.60 percent male), with particular attention to socioeconomic status (SES) variations. Using data from June to August 2024 across three Chinese regions, researchers employed standardized measures including the Children's Depression Inventory, Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children, Ruminative Response Scale, and Internet Addiction Test. Regularized partial correlation network analysis revealed symptom rumination and social anxiety as both core and bridging symptoms within the network structure. The overall network strength differed significantly between SES groups (high SES = 8.476 vs low SES = 8.683). Low-SES adolescents exhibited higher centrality in low self-esteem, while high-SES adolescents demonstrated higher centrality in time management and performance difficulties. Symptom rumination and social anxiety exhibited the highest strength and bridge centrality in the overall network, highlighting their key roles in linking psychological issues with PIU. SES-related network differences highlight how socioeconomic context may be associated with different psychological pathways to PIU. These findings inform a more nuanced and context-sensitive understanding of PIU etiology. However, given the limitations of the SES measure used in this study, including reliance on a single subjective item and dichotomized grouping, these observations should be interpreted with caution.