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Relationship between Internet Use and Negative Affect

Author

Listed:
  • Hongyun Zheng

    (Huazhong Agricultural University)

  • Wanglin Ma

    (Lincoln University)

  • Junpeng Li

    (Huaiyin Normal University)

  • Julio Botero

    (Lincoln University)

Abstract

While positive emotions like happiness and life satisfaction have received great attention, how to eliminate negative affect is largely neglected. This study contributes to the literature by examining the relationship between Internet use and people’s negative affect. Unlike previous studies that consider only one indicator, we capture negative affect from different dimensions by considering loneliness, sadness, and life hardship. We employ an endogenous ordered probit model to address the selection bias of Internet use and analyze the 20,107 individual-level samples sourced from the 2020 China Family Panel Studies survey. The results show that Internet use significantly reduces people’s loneliness, sadness, and life hardship. We also find that studying online and watching short videos would increase people’s loneliness feeling and shopping online deepens people’s life hardship. In contrast, using WeChat significantly reduces sadness and life hardship. Our findings confirm that guiding people to use the Internet appropriately is necessary to reduce negative affect and improve the quality of their life.

Suggested Citation

  • Hongyun Zheng & Wanglin Ma & Junpeng Li & Julio Botero, 2023. "Relationship between Internet Use and Negative Affect," Applied Research in Quality of Life, Springer;International Society for Quality-of-Life Studies, vol. 18(4), pages 1693-1713, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ariqol:v:18:y:2023:i:4:d:10.1007_s11482-023-10158-z
    DOI: 10.1007/s11482-023-10158-z
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    More about this item

    Keywords

    Internet use; Mental Health; Loneliness; Sadness; Life hardship; China;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C26 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Single Equation Models; Single Variables - - - Instrumental Variables (IV) Estimation
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • L86 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Information and Internet Services; Computer Software

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