Wang Weijun, Ye Jianmei, Zhu Yimeng, Huang Dawei, Zhao Xin
Key Laboratory of Adolescent Cyberpsychology and Behavior, Ministry of Education, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
School of Psychology, Central China Normal University, Wuhan, Hubei Province, China.
Front Psychiatry. 2023 Dec 7;14:1258673. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1258673. eCollection 2023.
While 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.
Through 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.
Results of the cross-lagged panel models showed that: Internet self-control had a significant negative impact on problematic internet use after five months ( = -0.094, < 0.01). Conversely, problematic internet use had a significant negative impact on internet self-control after five months ( = -0.099, < 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 ( = 0.142, < 0.01; = -0.075, < 0.05).
Our 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.
虽然研究表明，高自我控制能力可能是防止网络使用问题的一种保障，但有证据表明，网络使用问题反过来可能会削弱自我控制能力。本研究旨在采用交叉滞后面板模型，阐明青少年网络自我控制与网络使用问题之间的纵向相互作用。此外，从积极心理学的角度出发，我们研究了“生活意义”在这种纵向关系中作为保护中介的潜在作用。然后，我们构建了一个中介模型，以探索预防网络使用问题的保护因素。
我们通过问卷调查，对659名青少年（331名男性和328名女性；平均年龄 = 13.61岁）进行了纵向跟踪，设计了两个时间点，间隔五个月，以评估他们的网络自我控制能力、网络使用问题以及生活意义。
交叉滞后面板模型的结果表明：五个月后，网络自我控制对网络使用问题有显著的负面影响（β = -0.094，p < 0.01）。相反，五个月后，网络使用问题对网络自我控制有显著的负面影响（β = -0.099，p < 0.05）。纵向中介模型的结果表明：五个月后，生活意义介导了网络自我控制对网络使用问题的影响（β = 0.142，p < 0.01；β = -0.075，p < 0.05）。
我们的研究揭示了网络自我控制与网络使用问题之间的相互预测关系，同时强调了生活意义在这种关系中的中介作用。这些发现表明，培养青少年的网络自我控制能力和生活意义感，可以作为解决网络使用问题有效预防和干预策略。
