Mapping Depression and Problematic Internet Use Symptoms in Chinese College Students: Insights from a Large-Scale Network Analysis.

The rapidly growing rate of Internet use globally is associated with an increased risk of both depression and Problematic Internet Use (PIU) in young people. This study aimed to analyze the inter-relationships between depression and PIU among college students from the perspective of network analysis...

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Publicado en:International Journal of Mental Health & Addiction Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 3234 - 3253
Autores principales: A, Li-Ya, Chen, Meng-Yi, Jiang, Yuan-Yuan, Huang, Hui-Ting, Liu, Shou, Ma, Yi, Su, Zhaohui, Cheung, Teris, Ungvari, Gabor S., Meng, Qing-Yong, Ng, Chee H., Xiang, Yu-Tao
Formato: Artículo
Publicado: Springer Nature Aug2026
Materias:
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
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      dt: Aug2026
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      pub: Springer Nature
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        10.1007/s11469-025-01519-w
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        atl: Mapping Depression and Problematic Internet Use Symptoms in Chinese College Students: Insights from a Large-Scale Network Analysis.
      aug:
        au:
          A, Li-Ya
          Chen, Meng-Yi
          Jiang, Yuan-Yuan
          Huang, Hui-Ting
          Liu, Shou
          Ma, Yi
          Su, Zhaohui
          Cheung, Teris
          Ungvari, Gabor S.
          Meng, Qing-Yong
          Ng, Chee H.
          Xiang, Yu-Tao
        affil:
          https://ror.org/01r4q9n85 Unit of Psychiatry, Department of Public Health and Medicinal Administration, & Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
          Faculty of Health, Zhuhai College of Science and Technology, Zhuhai, Guangdong Province, China
          https://ror.org/01r4q9n85 Centre for Cognitive and Brain Sciences, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
          https://ror.org/05h33bt13 Department of Public Health, Medical College, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
          https://ror.org/03jqs2n27 Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macao, China
          https://ror.org/04ct4d772 School of Public Health, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
          https://ror.org/0030zas98 School of Nursing, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong SAR, China
          https://ror.org/02stey378 Section of Psychiatry, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia
          https://ror.org/047272k79 Division of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
          https://ror.org/01ej9dk98 Department of Psychiatry, The Melbourne Clinic and St Vincent's Hospital, University of Melbourne, Richmond, VIC, Australia
      su:
        China
        Mental depression
        Internet addiction
        College students
        Mental health
        Psychological tests
        Graphical modeling (Statistics)
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        subj:
          Mental depression
          Internet addiction
          College students
          Mental health
          Psychological tests
          China
          Offices of Mental Health Practitioners (except Physicians)
          Graphical modeling (Statistics)
      keyword:
        Depression
        Network analysis
        Problematic Internet use
        Depression
        Network analysis
        Problematic Internet use
      ab: The rapidly growing rate of Internet use globally is associated with an increased risk of both depression and Problematic Internet Use (PIU) in young people. This study aimed to analyze the inter-relationships between depression and PIU among college students from the perspective of network analysis. A total of 6514 college students were recruited nationwide from September to December 2023 in China. Depression and PIU were assessed using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and the Internet Addiction Test, respectively. Expected Influence (EI) and bridge EI were used as centrality indices to characterize the network structure of the symptoms. Based on self-reported questionnaires, the percentage of college students with depressive symptoms and PIU were 53.7% [95% confidence interval (CI): 52.4%–54.9%] and 27.9% (95%CI: 26.8%–29.0%), respectively. The network analysis identified IAT2 ("Neglect chores to spend more time online") as the most central symptom, followed by IAT16 ("Request an extension for longer time") and IAT8 ("Academic efficiency declines"). Additionally, PHQ8 ("Motor disturbances"), IAT20 ("Depress/moody/nervous being offline") and PHQ9 ("Suicide ideation") were the key bridge nodes linking the communities of depression and PIU. Depression and PIU were common among university students in China. Appropriate measures should target the central and bridge symptoms identified in this network model to effectively address such mental health problems in those affected.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype: Article
      src: R
    language: English
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