Heterogeneity in the network dynamics of psychopathological symptoms among adolescents: A cross-lagged panel network...

Network theory conceptualizes psychopathology as dynamic interactions among symptoms within interconnected networks. The network dynamics of psychopathological symptoms among adolescents may vary substantially across individuals, yet this heterogeneity remains underexplored. Depression, anxiety, and problematic smartphone use (PSU) are common and frequently co-occurring indicators of psychopathology during adolescence and may mutually reinforce one another over time. Based on these three indicators, this study investigated distinct developmental trajectories of adolescent psychopathology and characterized their heterogeneous network structures, longitudinal associations, and core symptoms.

9653 Chinese fifth-grade students (49.7% female; M_age = 10.14 ± 0.36 years) completed self-reported measures of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms, and PSU across four waves with one-year intervals. Group-based multi-trajectory modeling was used to identify heterogeneous developmental trajectories of psychopathological symptoms, and cross-lagged panel network analysis was applied to examine network dynamics of each group.

Three developmental trajectories were identified: a low-risk group (34.8%), a potential-risk group (49.9%), and a high-risk group (15.2%). Network structures differed substantially across subgroups: the low-risk group showed a stable resilient network with low connectivity, the potential-risk group exhibited a transitional and highly spreading network with weak connections, and the high-risk group demonstrated a stable active network with strong connectivity. Comparison worry, depressed mood, and worthlessness emerged as central symptoms, especially in the potential- and high-risk groups.

These findings enhance understanding of how symptoms spread and sustain in adolescent psychopathology, highlight heterogeneity in network dynamics, and offer implications for explaining comorbidity, and informing risk identification and targeted prevention strategies.