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Relationship between loneliness and internet addiction: a meta-analysis
1Department of Education, Liaoning Normal University, 116000, Dalian, China.
BMC Public Health
|March 20, 2024
Summary
Loneliness is moderately linked to Internet addiction. This connection is influenced by individual factors like age and gender, but not by research methods or timing, such as before or after COVID-19.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Sociology
- Digital Media Studies
Background:
- The digital age has increased Internet use, raising concerns about excessive usage and its negative impacts.
- Understanding the link between loneliness and Internet addiction is crucial for public health.
- This study systematically analyzes research on loneliness and Internet addiction to determine their relationship.
Approach:
- A comprehensive meta-analysis of empirical research over two decades was conducted.
- Investigated the relationship between loneliness and Internet addiction, focusing on moderating variables.
- Categorized moderating variables into objective (subject characteristics) and subjective (researcher characteristics).
Key Points:
- Analyzed 32 effect sizes from 35,623 subjects, finding no publication bias.
- Loneliness showed a significant positive correlation with Internet addiction (r=0.291, p<0.001).
- Objective characteristics significantly moderated the loneliness-Internet addiction relationship, while subjective characteristics did not.
Conclusions:
- A moderately positive correlation exists between loneliness and Internet addiction.
- Factors such as gender, age, grade, and region influence the strength of this correlation.
- The relationship was not affected by measurement tools, research design, or the timing of research relative to COVID-19.
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