Internet and depression in adolescents: Evidence from China

Frontiers in Psychology

Psychology

Jiafeng Gu¹  Yuna Ma² 

[1] Institute of Social Science Survey, Peking University, Beijing, China;School of Social Work, China Youth University for Political Sciences, Beijing, China;

关键词: internet;    adolescents;    depression;    online activity;    logistic regression;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1026920

 received in 2022-08-24, accepted in 2023-01-26,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Despite growing attention to Internet activity as a social determinant of depression in adolescents, few studies have focused on its diverse effects on depressive symptoms. Using data from the 2020 China Family Panel Study, this study employed logistic regression analysis to examine how Internet activity affects depressive symptoms in adolescents in China. The results indicated that adolescents with longer online duration using mobile phones tended to have higher levels of depression. Adolescents who engaged in online activities related to games, shopping, and entertainment had more severe depressive symptoms, but their time spent on online learning was not significantly associated with their level of depression. These findings suggest a dynamic link between Internet activity and adolescent depression and offer policy implications for addressing depressive symptoms in adolescents. Specifically, Internet and youth development policies and public health programs during the COVID-19 pandemic should be designed based on a comprehensive account of all aspects of Internet activity.

【 授权许可】

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