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

Area of Science:

• Adolescent psychology
• Digital health
• Network analysis

Background:

• Gender differences in problematic Internet use (PIU) are debated.
• Existing research lacks clarity on how adolescent males and females differ in PIU symptoms and their connections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate gender-specific network structures of PIU in adolescents.
• To compare the central symptoms and network connectivity between male and female adolescents.

Main Methods:

• A national survey of 4884 adolescents in mainland China.
• Network analysis was employed to map PIU symptoms and their relationships.
• Gender-based comparisons of global and local network connectivity were conducted.

Main Results:

• PIU network structures differed significantly between genders.
• Male adolescents exhibited stronger global network strength, suggesting higher chronicity risk.
• Key distinct symptoms included "Increase time online to achieve satisfaction" for females and "Feel depressed once not online for a while" for males. Females showed higher centrality in social withdrawal, while males showed higher centrality in interpersonal conflicts.

Conclusions:

• Findings reveal distinct gender-specific risks and characteristics of adolescent PIU.
• Gender-tailored interventions targeting core symptoms can enhance PIU treatment efficacy.