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Exploring Associations between Problematic Internet Use, Depressive Symptoms and Sleep Disturbance among Southern Chinese Adolescents

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  • Yafei Tan

    (Center for Injury Prevention Research, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China)

  • Ying Chen

    (Center for Injury Prevention Research, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China)

  • Yaogui Lu

    (Center for Injury Prevention Research, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China)

  • Liping Li

    (Center for Injury Prevention Research, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou 515041, China)

Abstract

The primary aim of this study was to examine associations between problematic Internet use, depression and sleep disturbance, and explore whether there were differential effects of problematic Internet use and depression on sleep disturbance. A total of 1772 adolescents who participated in the Shantou Adolescent Mental Health Survey were recruited in 2012 in Shantou, China. The Chinese version of the Internet Addiction Test (IAT) was used to evaluate the prevalence and severity of Internet addiction. The Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a 10-item version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD-10), and other socio-demographic measures were also completed. Multiple regression analysis was used to test the mediating effect of problematic Internet use and depression on sleep disturbance. Among the participants, 17.2% of adolescents met the criteria for problematic Internet use, 40.0% were also classified as suffering from sleep disturbance, and 54.4% of students had depressive symptoms. Problematic Internet use was significantly associated with depressive symptoms and sleep disturbance. The correlation between depressive symptoms and sleep disturbance was highly significant. Both problematic Internet use ( β = 0.014; Sobel test Z = 12.7, p < 0.001) and depression ( β = 0.232; Sobel test Z = 3.39, p < 0.001) had partially mediating effects on sleep disturbance and depression was of greater importance for sleep disturbance than problematic Internet use. There is a high prevalence of problematic Internet use, depression and sleep disturbance among high school students in southern China, and problematic Internet use and depressive symptoms are strongly associated with sleep disturbance. This study provides evidence that problematic Internet use and depression have partially mediating effects on sleep disturbance. These results are important for clinicians and policy makers with useful information for prevention and intervention efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Yafei Tan & Ying Chen & Yaogui Lu & Liping Li, 2016. "Exploring Associations between Problematic Internet Use, Depressive Symptoms and Sleep Disturbance among Southern Chinese Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-12, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:13:y:2016:i:3:p:313-:d:65680
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yafei Tan & Di Ma & Ying Chen & Fuyuan Cheng & Xiangxiang Liu & Liping Li, 2015. "Relationships between Sleep Behaviors and Unintentional Injury in Southern Chinese School-Aged Children: A Population-Based Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-17, October.
    2. Teris Cheung & Paul S.F. Yip, 2015. "Depression, Anxiety and Symptoms of Stress among Hong Kong Nurses: A Cross-sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-29, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Ioulia Kokka & Iraklis Mourikis & Nicolas C. Nicolaides & Christina Darviri & George P. Chrousos & Christina Kanaka-Gantenbein & Flora Bacopoulou, 2021. "Exploring the Effects of Problematic Internet Use on Adolescent Sleep: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(2), pages 1-14, January.
    2. Dan Ma & Hao Yuan, 2021. "Neighborhood Environment, Internet Use and Mental Distress among Older Adults: The Case of Shanghai, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-12, March.
    3. Beifang Fan & Wanxing Wang & Tian Wang & Bo Xie & Huimin Zhang & Yuhua Liao & Ciyong Lu & Lan Guo, 2020. "Problematic Internet Use, Non-Medical Use of Prescription Drugs, and Depressive Symptoms among Adolescents: A Large-Scale Study in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(3), pages 1-13, January.
    4. Birgitta Dresp-Langley & Axel Hutt, 2022. "Digital Addiction and Sleep," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-19, June.
    5. Xiaoxiong Lai & Chang Nie & Shunsen Huang & Yajun Li & Tao Xin & Cai Zhang & Yun Wang, 2022. "Effect of Growth Mindset on Mental Health Two Years Later: The Role of Smartphone Use," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(6), pages 1-11, March.
    6. Min-Pei Lin, 2020. "Prevalence of Internet Addiction during the COVID-19 Outbreak and Its Risk Factors among Junior High School Students in Taiwan," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-12, November.

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