The Relationships Between Internet Use, Depression, and Life Satisfaction Over Time in China: A Longitudinal Mediation Analysis.

Previous literature indicates that internet use, depression, and life satisfaction are intertwined in a digital age. Yet, the nature of the relationships between these three variables is still debated, and robust longitudinal evidence from non-Western contexts remains scarce. Addressing this gap, th...

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Publicado en:Applied Research in Quality of Life Vol. 21; no. 3; pp. 1515 - 1545
Autores principales: Yang, Xiaokun, He, Qingyi, Zhou, Shuhuan
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Springer Nature Jun2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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        atl: The Relationships Between Internet Use, Depression, and Life Satisfaction Over Time in China: A Longitudinal Mediation Analysis.
      aug:
        au:
          Yang, Xiaokun
          He, Qingyi
          Zhou, Shuhuan
        affil: https://ror.org/03jqs2n27 Faculty of Humanities and Arts, Macau University of Science and Technology, Macau SAR, China
      sug:
        subj:
          Depression China
          Personal Satisfaction Evaluation
          Internet Utilization
          Human
          Mediation Analysis
          Prospective Studies
          China
          Chinese Persons
          Adult
          Factor Analysis
          Chi Square Test
          Descriptive Statistics
          Confidence Intervals
          Digital Technology
          Psychological Well-Being
          Adult: 19-44 years
      ab: Previous literature indicates that internet use, depression, and life satisfaction are intertwined in a digital age. Yet, the nature of the relationships between these three variables is still debated, and robust longitudinal evidence from non-Western contexts remains scarce. Addressing this gap, the current study investigates whether depression mediates the internet use-life satisfaction link longitudinally in China. Using a nationally representative, three-wave panel sample of 4,796 Chinese adults, the longitudinal mediation analysis revealed that internet use positively predicted subsequent changes in depression and negatively predicted life satisfaction. Depression, in turn, negatively predicted life satisfaction and exhibited a significant longitudinal mediation effect. These findings establish depression as a critical mechanism underlying the internet's impact on life satisfaction in the Chinese context and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of digital media effects in non-Western societies.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
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        research
        tables/charts
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      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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