IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v20y2023i11p5952-d1155443.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Risk Factors and Protective Factors of Internet Addiction in University Students during the Pandemic: Implications for Prevention and Treatment

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel T. L. Shek

    (Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong)

  • Wenyu Chai

    (Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong)

  • Kaiji Zhou

    (Department of Applied Social Sciences, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong)

Abstract

While the prevalence rates of Internet addiction (IA) amongst young people during the pandemic are disturbing, few studies have investigated the risk and protective factors of IA in Hong Kong university students under COVID-19. In this study, we examined the relationship between COVID-19-related stress and IA and the role of psychological morbidity and positive psychological attributes in the relationship. In summer 2022, 978 university students completed a survey assessing pandemic-related stress, psychological morbidity, and positive psychological attributes. While psychological morbidity was indexed by depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and suicidal behavior, positive psychological attributes included life satisfaction, flourishing, adversity beliefs, emotional competence, resilience, and family functioning measures. Results showed that stress and psychological morbidity positively predicted IA, and psychological morbidity mediated the association between stress and IA. Positive psychological attributes negatively predicted stress and IA, and mediated the connection between stress and IA. Positive psychological attributes moderated the mediating effect of psychological morbidity on the relationship between stress and IA. In addition to theoretical contributions, this study contributes to IA prevention and treatment: reducing psychological morbidity and promoting positive psychological attributes are promising strategies to address IA issues in young people.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel T. L. Shek & Wenyu Chai & Kaiji Zhou, 2023. "Risk Factors and Protective Factors of Internet Addiction in University Students during the Pandemic: Implications for Prevention and Treatment," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-17, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:11:p:5952-:d:1155443
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/11/5952/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/20/11/5952/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xiaoqin Zhu & Daniel T. L. Shek, 2021. "Promoting Service Leadership Qualities and Well-Being among University Students: Evaluation Findings in Hong Kong," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(6), pages 2475-2495, December.
    2. Laura Bitto Urbanova & Jana Holubcikova & Andrea Madarasova Geckova & Sijmen A. Reijneveld & Jitse P. van Dijk, 2019. "Does Life Satisfaction Mediate the Association between Socioeconomic Status and Excessive Internet Use?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-10, October.
    3. Kuan-Ying Hsieh & Ray C. Hsiao & Yi-Hsin Yang & Tai-Ling Liu & Cheng-Fang Yen, 2018. "Predictive Effects of Sex, Age, Depression, and Problematic Behaviors on the Incidence and Remission of Internet Addiction in College Students: A Prospective Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-10, December.
    4. Daniel T.L. Shek & Li Lin & Cecilia M.S. Ma & Lu Yu & Janet T.Y. Leung & Florence K.Y. Wu & Hilde Leung & Diya Dou, 2021. "Perceptions of Adolescents, Teachers and Parents of Life Skills Education and Life Skills in High School Students in Hong Kong," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 16(5), pages 1847-1860, October.
    5. Chang Liu & Melinda McCabe & Sebastian Kellett-Renzella & Shruthi Shankar & Nardin Gerges & Kim Cornish, 2021. "Addressing Depression Symptoms among University Students under COVID-19 Restrictions—The Mediating Role of Stress and the Moderating Role of Resilience," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-11, December.
    6. Daniel Shek, 2005. "A Longitudinal Study of Chinese Cultural Beliefs About Adversity, Psychological Well-Being, Delinquency And Substance Abuse in Chinese Adolescents With Economic Disadvantage," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 71(1), pages 385-409, March.
    7. Liu, Yinbo & Ni, Xiaoli & Niu, Gengfeng, 2020. "The influence of active social networking services use and social capital on flourishing in Chinese adolescents," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 119(C).
    8. Maria Clelia Zurlo & Federica Vallone & Maria Francesca Cattaneo Della Volta, 2022. "Perceived Past and Current COVID-19-Stressors, Coping Strategies and Psychological Health among University Students: A Mediated-Moderated Model," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-19, August.
    9. Eleonora Marzilli & Luca Cerniglia & Silvia Cimino & Renata Tambelli, 2022. "Internet Addiction among Young Adult University Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Role of Peritraumatic Distress, Attachment, and Alexithymia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-22, November.
    10. Daniel T. L. Shek & Lu Yu & Florence K. Y. Wu & Xiaoqin Zhu & Kevin H. Y. Chan, 2017. "A 4-year Longitudinal Study of Well-being of Chinese University Students in Hong Kong," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 12(4), pages 867-884, December.
    11. Richard F. Catalano & M. Lisa Berglund & Jean A. M. Ryan & Heather S. Lonczak & J. David Hawkins, 2004. "Positive Youth Development in the United States: Research Findings on Evaluations of Positive Youth Development Programs," The ANNALS of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, , vol. 591(1), pages 98-124, January.
    12. Xiang Li & Daniel T. L. Shek & Esther Y. W. Shek, 2021. "Psychological Morbidity among University Students in Hong Kong (2014–2018): Psychometric Properties of the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) and Related Correlates," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(16), pages 1-15, August.
    13. Jaroslava Mackova & Zuzana Dankulincova Veselska & Daniela Filakovska Bobakova & Andrea Madarasova Geckova & Jitse P. van Dijk & Sijmen A. Reijneveld, 2019. "Crisis in the Family and Positive Youth Development: The Role of Family Functioning," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-11, May.
    14. Xiaoqin Zhu & Daniel T. L. Shek & Cathy H. M. Chan, 2021. "Promoting Service Leadership Qualities and Well-Being among University Students through an Online Course during COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-16, August.
    15. Zhen, Rui & Li, Lu & Liu, Xuanwen & Zhou, Xiao, 2020. "Negative life events, depression, and mobile phone dependency among left-behind adolescents in rural China: An interpersonal perspective," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 109(C).
    16. Ana Silva & António Caetano, 2013. "Validation of the Flourishing Scale and Scale of Positive and Negative Experience in Portugal," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 110(2), pages 469-478, January.
    17. Turgut Karakose, 2022. "Assessing the Relationships between Internet Addiction, Depression, COVID-19-Related Fear, Anxiety, and Suspicion among Graduate Students in Educational Administration: A Structural Equation Modeling ," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-16, April.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Stănculescu, Elena & Griffiths, Mark D., 2024. "The association between problematic internet use and hedonic and eudaimonic well-being: A latent profile analysis," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 78(C).
    2. Girum Tareke Zewude & Tarikuwa Natnael & Getachew Tassew Woreta & Anmut Endalkachew Bezie, 2025. "A Multi- Mediation Analysis on the Impact of Social Media and Internet Addiction on University and High School Students’ Mental Health Through Social Capital and Mindfulness," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(1), pages 1-42, January.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Wenyu Chai & Xiang Li & Daniel T. L. Shek, 2022. "The Effectiveness of a Leadership Subject Using a Hybrid Teaching Mode during the Pandemic: Objective Outcome and Subjective Outcome Evaluation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-17, August.
    2. Xiang Li & Daniel T. L. Shek & Tingyin Wong & Lu Yu, 2022. "Subjective Outcome Evaluation of Instructional Videos in Leadership Education," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Zheng Zhou & Liping Mu & Shaojie Qi & Daniel T.L. Shek, 2024. "Service Leadership through Serving Minority Adolescents in Rural China Using a Rural Version of a Positive Youth Development Program," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 19(6), pages 1-23, December.
    4. Li Lin & Daniel T. L. Shek & Xiang Li, 2023. "Who benefits and appreciates more? An evaluation of Online Service-Learning Projects in Mainland China during the COVID-19 pandemic," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(2), pages 625-646, April.
    5. Isabella Romano & Mark A. Ferro & Karen A. Patte & Ed Diener & Scott T. Leatherdale, 2020. "Measurement Invariance of the Flourishing Scale among a Large Sample of Canadian Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-15, October.
    6. Yanling Geng & Longtao He, 2022. "Gender Differences in Children’s Psychological Well-Being in Mainland China: Risk and Protective Factors," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(5), pages 2743-2763, October.
    7. Xiaoqin Zhu & Daniel T. L. Shek, 2020. "The Influence of Adolescent Problem Behaviors on Life Satisfaction: Parent–Child Subsystem Qualities as Mediators," Child Indicators Research, Springer;The International Society of Child Indicators (ISCI), vol. 13(5), pages 1767-1789, October.
    8. Ana Junça-Silva, 2022. "Friends with Benefits: The Positive Consequences of Pet-Friendly Practices for Workers’ Well-Being," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-10, January.
    9. Wenjie Li & Linting Zhang & Chengcheng Li & Ningzhe Zhu & Jingjing Zhao & Feng Kong, 2022. "Pursuing Pleasure or Meaning: A Cross-Lagged Analysis of Happiness Motives and Well-being in Adolescents," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 23(8), pages 3981-3999, December.
    10. Turgut Karakose & Ibrahim Kocabas & Ramazan Yirci & Stamatios Papadakis & Tuncay Yavuz Ozdemir & Murat Demirkol, 2022. "The Development and Evolution of Digital Leadership: A Bibliometric Mapping Approach-Based Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-26, December.
    11. Downey, Sarah K. & Lyons, Michael D. & Williams, Joanna L., 2022. "The role of family relationships in youth mentoring: An ecological perspective," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    12. Ruhr, Lindsay R. & Jordan Fowler, Lindsey, 2022. "Empowerment-focused positive youth development programming for underprivileged youth in the Southern U.S.: A qualitative evaluation," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    13. Gabriella D. Roude & Kimberly Wu & Lisa Richardson & Amber Tucker & Lolita Moss & Michelle Kondo & Christopher N. Morrison & Charles C. Branas & Jeanette Gustat & Katherine P. Theall, 2024. "The Impact of Vacant and Abandoned Property on Health and Well-Being: A Qualitative Inquiry," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 19(4), pages 2125-2145, August.
    14. Lars Bauger & Rob Bongaardt & Jack J. Bauer, 2021. "Maturity and Well-Being: The Development of Self-Authorship, Eudaimonic Motives, Age, and Subjective Well-Being," Journal of Happiness Studies, Springer, vol. 22(3), pages 1313-1340, March.
    15. Xinli Chi & Xiaofeng Liu & Qiaomin Huang & Xiumin Cui & Li Lin, 2020. "The Relationship between Positive Youth Development and Depressive Symptoms among Chinese Early Adolescents: A Three-Year Cross-Lagged Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-17, September.
    16. Tang, Wanjie & Dai, Qian & Wang, Gang & Hu, Tao & Xu, Wenjian, 2020. "Impact of parental absence on insomnia and nightmares in Chinese left-behind adolescents: A structural equation modeling analysis," Children and Youth Services Review, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    17. Teasdale, Rebecca M., 2022. "Representing the values of program participants: Endogenous evaluative criteria," Evaluation and Program Planning, Elsevier, vol. 94(C).
    18. Shaojie Qi & Fengrui Hua & Zheng Zhou & Daniel T. L. Shek, 2022. "Trends of Positive Youth Development Publications (1995–2020): A Scientometric Review," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 17(1), pages 421-446, February.
    19. Luis Felipe Dias Lopes & Bianca Michels Chaves & Adriane Fabrício & Adriana Porto & Damiana Machado de Almeida & Sandra Leonara Obregon & Mauren Pimentel Lima & Wesley Vieira da Silva & Maria Emilia C, 2020. "Analysis of Well-Being and Anxiety among University Students," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(11), pages 1-23, May.
    20. Yingying Yao & Min Lin & Jianchao Ni & Jing Ni, 2023. "Hope Buffers the Effect of Fear of COVID-19 on Depression among College Students: Insomnia as a Mediator," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(4), pages 1-13, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:20:y:2023:i:11:p:5952-:d:1155443. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.