The longitudinal relationships between short video addiction and depressive symptoms: A cross-lagged panel network analysis

Short video addiction, a specific type of internet addiction, has emerged as a significant problem among youth today. The high prevalence of co-occurring mood problems, such as depressive symptoms, in individuals with short video addiction poses additional challenges for treatment. However, the extent to which these symptoms interact, predict each other, and further maintain the problems remains unclear. Therefore, this study employed cross-lagged panel network analysis to reveal the directional network structure between the co-occurrence of short video addiction and depressive symptoms in a sample of 1163 Chinese youth. The findings indicate that specific symptoms of addiction, namely ‘Tolerance’, and depressive symptoms such as ‘Anhedonia’, predicted the subsequent development of symptoms for each mental health issue. Furthermore, both the addiction problem ‘Conflict’ and emotional feelings such as ‘Sad mood’ may serve as bridge symptoms linking the co-occurrence of these two mental health issues. These findings contribute to a profound comprehension of the interrelationships and evolution of these conditions over time, revealing the underlying mechanisms behind the high relapse rates observed in addiction treatment strategies. In other words, the key symptoms and bridge symptoms identified in this study can be prioritized as targets for preventing and treating short video addiction in this particular population. By disrupting any interconnectedness between short video addiction and depressive symptoms, we can avoid the progression or escalation of co-occurring issues, leading to more effective and comprehensive treatment outcomes.