Gender differences in symptom structure of adolescent problematic internet use: A network analysis

Abstract

Background Gender differences in problematic Internet use (PIU) have long been discussed. However, whether and how female and male adolescents differ in central symptoms and symptom associations are not fully understood. Methods As a national survey in the Chinese mainland, 4884 adolescents (51.6% females; Mage = 13.83 ± 2.41) participated in the present study. This study applies network analysis to identify central symptoms of PIU networks in female and male adolescents and compares whether and how global and local connectivity of PIU networks differ by gender. Results Female and male network structures of PIU were different and global strength was stronger in males than females, indicating a higher risk of chronicity of PIU among male adolescents. Specifically, “Reluctant to turn off Internet” exerted the largest effect on both genders. “Increase time online to achieve satisfaction” and “Feel depressed once not online for a while” were particularly critical to female and male adolescents, respectively. Moreover, females scored higher centralities in social withdrawal symptoms and males did so in interpersonal conflicts owing to PIU. Conclusions These findings provide novel insights into gender differential risks and features of adolescent PIU. Differences in the core symptoms of PIU suggest that gender-specific interventions focusing on core symptoms might effectively relieve PIU and maximize treatment effects.

Fear of missing out (FoMO) and internet addiction among adolescence: The moderation effect of gender differences

“…Prior studies have highlighted variations in internet usage patterns between males and females, with some research indicating that females tend to be more active on social media, whereas males may be more immersed in diverse online activities (Khan et al, 2017). Previous investigations have further indicated that females exhibit higher usage of social media platforms, while males are more prominently involved in online gaming (Liu et al, 2023;Pantu, 2018;Shan et al, 2021).…”

“…Previous studies (Dufour et al, 2016;Gul et al, 2022;Khan et al, 2017;Liu et al, 2023) have consistently found differences in how males and females use the internet. For example, a study suggest that females may be more active on social media platforms, using them for communication, sharing, and connecting with others.…”

Problematic Internet Use in Early Adolescents: Gender and Loneliness Differences in a Latent Growth Model

“…8,30 The role of this compensatory drive is consistent with what has been found in recent studies: both boys and girls reported that the idea of "not wanting to turn off the internet" after internet use was the most influential factor in PIU. 31 One researcher investigated PIU in Chinese subjects in early, middle, and late adolescence and found that "reluctance to stop using the internet" and "lack of control" were stronger in middle and late adolescence. 32 According to the above, boys and girls have different concerns about the functional experience of the internet, which may explain their different levels of PIU.…”