Gender differences in problematic internet use and psychological distress among Chinese early adolescents: A...

Problematic internet use (PIU) and psychological distress are widespread in early adolescence. However, most existing research on this topic has not specifically targeted this developmental period, examined gender differences, or used longitudinal designs, thereby limiting causal inference. Therefore, we employed a prospective cross-lagged panel network analysis to address these gaps, focusing on gender differences in the relationship between PIU and psychological distress among early adolescents.

This two-wave longitudinal study included 5,238 Chinese early adolescents (mean age = 13.53 ± 0.57 years), with data collected at baseline and at a six-month one-year follow-up. PIU and psychological distress were measured.We estimated Cross-lagged panel network (CLPN) models for the full sample and by gender subgroup to examine central symptoms and their directional relationships over time.

Controlling for age and gender variables, CLPN models revealed that"negative self - esteem"demonstrated the strongest predictive power for subsequent symptoms, while "withdrawal and social problems" (a core PIU symptom) were the most susceptible to the influence of prior symptoms. Gender-stratified analysis showed that "anhedonia" was the core symptom in males, whereas "negative self - esteem" emerged as the pivotal symptom in females.

Given the distinct core symptoms identified for males (anhedonia) and females (negative self-esteem), intervention programs should prioritize these gender-specific targets, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. Additionally, the identified central PIU symptom ("withdrawal and social problems") represents a critical and modifiable target for early prevention efforts.