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Problematic Internet Use and Smoking among Chinese Junior Secondary Students: The Mediating Role of Depressive Symptomatology and Family Support

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  • Phoenix Kit-han Mo

    (Center for Health Behaviours Research, School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
    The Chinese University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China
    These authors contributed equally to the paper.)

  • Ji-Bin Li

    (Department of Clinical Research, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou 510060, China
    These authors contributed equally to the paper.)

  • Hui Jiang

    (Center for Health Behaviours Research, School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China)

  • Joseph T. F. Lau

    (Center for Health Behaviours Research, School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
    The Chinese University of Hong Kong Shenzhen Research Institute, Shenzhen 518057, China)

Abstract

Background : Internet use is significant public health issue and can be a risk factor for other addictive behaviors, such as smoking. The present study examined the association between problematic Internet use (PIU) (i.e., Internet addiction (IA) and social networking addiction (SNA)) and smoking, and the mediating role of depressive symptomatology and family support played in such associations. Methods : A cross-sectional study was conducted among 5182 junior secondary students (grade 7 and 8) recruited from nine schools using stratified sampling. Results : A total of 3.6% of students had smoked in the past month, and 6.4% of students were identified as IA cases. Adjusted for significant background variables, PIU (ORa = 2.07, 95% CI = 1.48, 2.90 for IA, ORa = 1.26, 95% CI = 1.09, 1.47 for SNA), and probable depression (ORa = 1.33, 95% CI = 1.05, 1.69) were significant risk factors, while family support (ORa = 0.85, 95% CI = 0.77, 0.94) was a significant protective factor of smoking. The mediation effects of lower family support and probable depression on the association between score on IA scale and smoking, and the mediation effect of lower family support on the association between score on SNA scale and smoking were significant, while the mediation effect of probable depression on the association between score on SNA scale and smoking was marginally significant. Conclusions : PIU contributed to an increased risk of smoking through depressive symptomatology and decreasing family support among junior school students. Interventions to reduce smoking are warranted; they should seek to reduce problematic Internet use and depressive symptomatology, and promote family support.

Suggested Citation

  • Phoenix Kit-han Mo & Ji-Bin Li & Hui Jiang & Joseph T. F. Lau, 2019. "Problematic Internet Use and Smoking among Chinese Junior Secondary Students: The Mediating Role of Depressive Symptomatology and Family Support," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(24), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:24:p:5053-:d:296771
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Phoenix K. H. Mo & Juliet Honglei Chen & Joseph T. F. Lau & Anise M. S. Wu, 2020. "Internet-Related Addictions: From Measurements to Interventions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-4, April.
    2. Apolinaras Zaborskis & Aistė Kavaliauskienė & Charli Eriksson & Ellen Klemera & Elitsa Dimitrova & Marina Melkumova & Daniela Husarova, 2021. "Family Support as Smoking Prevention during Transition from Early to Late Adolescence: A Study in 42 Countries," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-15, December.

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