Data_Sheet_1_Longitudinal relationship between internet self-control and problematic internet use among Chinese adolescents: mediating role of meaning in life.pdf

IntroductionWhile studies indicate that high self-control may serve as a safeguard against problematic internet use, there’s evidence suggesting that problematic internet use can, in turn, diminish self-control. This study aimed to elucidate the longitudinal interplay between internet self-control and problematic internet use in adolescents, employing cross-lagged panel modeling. Furthermore, drawing from a positive psychology perspective, we examined the potential role of ‘meaning in life’ as a protective mediator within this longitudinal relationship. We then constructed a mediation model to explore protective factors against problematic internet use.
MethodsThrough a questionnaire, we tracked 659 adolescents (331 males and 328 females; mean age=13.61) in a longitudinal design across two time points, spaced at five-month intervals, to assess their internet self-control, problematic internet use, and meaning in life.
ResultsResults of the cross-lagged panel models showed that: Internet self-control had a significant negative impact on problematic internet use after five months (β = −0.094, p < 0.01). Conversely, problematic internet use had a significant negative impact on internet self-control after five months (β = −0.099, p < 0.05). Results from the longitudinal mediation model showed that: Meaning in life mediated the effect of internet self-control on problematic internet use after five months (βinternet self-control(T1)-meaning in life(T2) = 0.142, p < 0.01; βmeaning in life(T1)-problematic internet use (T2) = −0.075, p < 0.05).
ConclusionOur study uncovers a reciprocal predictive relationship between internet self-control and problematic internet use, while highlighting the mediating role of meaning in life within this relationship. These findings suggest that fostering internet self-control and cultivating a sense of meaning in life among adolescents can serve as effective prevention and intervention strategies for addressing the issue of problematic internet use.

研究简介：尽管已有研究表明，较高的自我控制能力可作为病理性网络使用（problematic internet use）的防御屏障，但亦有证据显示，病理性网络使用反过来会削弱个体的自我控制能力。本研究旨在采用交叉滞后面板模型（cross-lagged panel modeling），阐明青少年网络自我控制与病理性网络使用之间的纵向交互关系。此外，本研究基于积极心理学视角，探讨了“生命意义感（meaning in life）”在该纵向关系中作为保护性中介变量的潜在作用，并构建了中介模型以探究病理性网络使用的保护性因素。

研究方法：本研究采用纵向设计，通过问卷调查对659名青少年（其中男性331名，女性328名；平均年龄为13.61岁）进行两次追踪测评，两次测评间隔为5个月，以此评估其网络自我控制、病理性网络使用及生命意义感水平。

研究结果：交叉滞后面板模型结果显示：5个月后，网络自我控制对病理性网络使用具有显著负向预测作用（β = −0.094，p < 0.01）；反之，病理性网络使用对网络自我控制亦存在显著负向预测作用（β = −0.099，p < 0.05）。纵向中介模型结果表明：5个月后，生命意义感在网络自我控制对病理性网络使用的影响中起中介作用（β网络自我控制(T1)-生命意义感(T2) = 0.142，p < 0.01；β生命意义感(T1)-病理性网络使用(T2) = −0.075，p < 0.05）。

研究结论：本研究揭示了青少年网络自我控制与病理性网络使用之间的双向预测关系，并阐明了生命意义感在该关系中的中介作用。研究结果表明，培养青少年的网络自我控制能力与生命意义感，可作为应对病理性网络使用问题的有效预防与干预策略。