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The bidirectional association between peer relationships and internet addiction: A meta-analytic structural equation
Xianxin Meng1, Lujia Xu1, Shuling Gao2
1School of Psychology, Fujian Normal University, Fuzhou, 350117, PR China.
Clinical Psychology Review
|October 4, 2025
Summary
Peer relationships and internet addiction influence each other bidirectionally over time. This complex dynamic relationship impacts prevention and intervention strategies for internet addiction.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Behavioral Science
- Public Health
Background:
- Peer relationships are consistently implicated in internet addiction research.
- Previous studies show inconsistent findings regarding the direction of influence between peer relationships and internet addiction.
- A need exists to clarify whether peer relationships are a vulnerability, consequence, or both for internet addiction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the reciprocal, cross-lagged relationships between peer relationships and internet addiction using meta-analytic structural equation modeling.
- To identify potential moderators, such as cultural background and time lag, influencing these relationships.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive meta-analysis was conducted, synthesizing data from 37 articles encompassing 45,212 subjects.
- Meta-analytic structural equation modeling was employed to analyze cross-lagged reciprocal effects.
- Multivariate random-effects meta-analysis was used to examine moderating factors.
Main Results:
- Peer relationships were found to significantly negatively predict internet addiction over time, and conversely, internet addiction predicted peer relationships.
- Cultural background moderated the predictive effect of peer relationships on internet addiction.
- Time lag and cultural background moderated the predictive effect of internet addiction on peer relationships.
Conclusions:
- A complex, bidirectional relationship exists between peer relationships and internet addiction.
- Understanding this dynamic is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.
- Cultural context and the time frame of the relationship are important considerations.
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