Miao Siwei, Xu Lu, Gao Sihong, Bai Cuiping, Huang Yan, Peng Bin
Centre for Medical Big Data and Artificial Intelligence, Southwest Hospital of Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, China.
School of Pharmacy, Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing, 401331, China.
Acta Psychol (Amst). 2024 Aug;248:104427. doi: 10.1016/j.actpsy.2024.104427. Epub 2024 Jul 24.
The prevalence of internet addiction among Chinese left-behind children, coupled with its potential to exacerbate anxiety and suicidal ideation, has become a critical issue. This study seeks to address the dearth of research on the psychological underpinnings of this phenomenon, particularly the mediating role of anxiety and the moderating effect of social support across different parental migration statuses. Understanding these relationships is crucial for developing targeted interventions and informing policy decisions.
In a cross-sectional study, we administered Young's Internet Addiction Test, alongside scales for anxiety, social support, and suicidal ideation, to 2882 middle school students in China with diverse parental migration backgrounds. Utilizing an online survey approach, we ensured broad participation and participant anonymity. Advanced statistical analyses, including regression models for mediation and moderation effects, were employed to rigorously test our hypotheses.
Among all participants, a significant positive correlation was observed between Internet addiction and suicidal ideation. Anxiety mediated the relationship between Internet addiction and suicidal ideation across all groups, including those with mother-only migration (Effect = 0.383, 95%CI: 0.107,0.943), father-only migration (Effect = 0.806, 95%CI: 0.487-1.230), both-parent migration(Effect = 0.289, 95%CI: 0.105-0.521), and non-left-behind children (Effect = 0.469, 95%CI: 0.342-0.630). Particularly in families where only the mother was absent, the moderating role of social support was especially prominent (B = 1.174, t = 6.446, p < 0.001 for low social support), underscoring the importance of family structure in the context of Internet addiction.
Internet addiction has both direct and indirect effects on suicidal ideation, with anxiety playing a mediating role in the indirect effects. Social support moderates and alleviates the relationship between Internet addiction and anxiety specifically in the mother-only migration group. Therefore, clarifying these relationships helps in developing and implementing effective interventions to specifically improve the mental health and living conditions of left-behind children.
中国留守儿童的网络成瘾问题日益普遍，且这一问题有可能加剧焦虑和自杀意念，已成为一个关键问题。本研究旨在解决针对这一现象心理基础的研究匮乏问题，特别是焦虑的中介作用以及不同父母迁移状况下社会支持的调节作用。了解这些关系对于制定有针对性的干预措施和为政策决策提供依据至关重要。
在一项横断面研究中，我们对2882名来自不同父母迁移背景的中国中学生进行了杨氏网络成瘾测试，同时还使用了焦虑、社会支持和自杀意念量表。采用在线调查方法，确保了广泛参与和参与者匿名性。运用包括中介和调节效应回归模型在内的高级统计分析方法，对我们的假设进行了严格检验。
在所有参与者中，观察到网络成瘾与自杀意念之间存在显著正相关。焦虑在网络成瘾与自杀意念之间起中介作用，涵盖所有群体，包括母亲单独外出务工家庭的孩子（效应=0.383，95%置信区间：0.107，0.943）、父亲单独外出务工家庭的孩子（效应=0.806，95%置信区间：0.487 - 1.230）、父母双方均外出务工家庭的孩子（效应=0.289，95%置信区间：0.105 - 0.521）以及非留守儿童（效应=0.469，95%置信区间：0.342 - 0.630）。特别是在母亲单独外出务工的家庭中，社会支持的调节作用尤为突出（低社会支持时，B = 1.174，t = 6.446，p < 0.001），凸显了在网络成瘾背景下家庭结构的重要性。
网络成瘾对自杀意念既有直接影响，也有间接影响，焦虑在间接影响中起中介作用。社会支持在母亲单独外出务工家庭中调节并缓解了网络成瘾与焦虑之间的关系。因此，厘清这些关系有助于制定和实施有效的干预措施，以专门改善留守儿童的心理健康和生活状况。
