Hierarchical Linear Model of Internet Addiction and Associated Risk Factors in Chinese Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study

Abstract

The risk effects of internet addiction have been documented in the literature; however, few longitudinal studies have considered the heterogeneity of the subjects. A hierarchical linear model was used here to explore the relationship between adolescents’ internet addiction and associated risk factors (depression, anxiety, gender, and obesity) from the perspective of longitudinal analysis. A total of 1033 adolescents were investigated and followed up with every three months with the Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Internet Addiction Test (IAT). The hierarchical linear model of internet addiction had only two levels. The first level of the model was the time variable (three time points) and the second level of the model was the individual adolescent (1033 adolescents). The results showed that (1) depression and anxiety, as associated risk factors, were significant positive predictors of adolescents’ internet addiction considering the developmental trajectory courses of adolescent internet addiction, as well as the individual differences over time; (2) there were gender differences in the adolescents’ internet addictions—specifically, the initial level of internet addiction among boys was significantly higher than that of girls, but the rate of decline was significantly faster than that of girls; and (3) there was no significant difference in obesity. The results demonstrated the importance of considering depression, anxiety, and gender in any intervention efforts to reduce adolescents’ internet addictions, and we should pay attention to the cultivation of positive coping strategies for Chinese adolescents. The limitations of the study were also discussed.