Chinese Internet Addiction Scale Research Articles

Relationship between different levels of internet use and depressive tendencies in Chinese college students: the chain mediating effect based on physical activity and social adaptability

ObjectiveTo investigate the relationship between internet use, physical activity, social adaptability, and depressive tendencies of college students, and to reveal the “advantages” and “disadvantages” of internet use around the “dose-effect”.MethodThe Revised Chinese Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS-R), Physical Activity Rating Scale (PARS-3), Chinese College Student Social Adjustment Scale (CCSAS), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used to conduct a random sampling survey among 3008 college students in China.Results(1) Internet use could directly and positively predict the depressive tendencies of college students. (2) Physical activity and social adaptability have a significant chain mediating effect between internet use and depressive tendencies. (3) There was a “U-shaped” dose-effect relationship between internet use and depression tendencies, indicating that normal internet use could directly and negatively predict depressive tendencies, and through the chain mediating effect of physical activity and social adaptability negatively predict depressive tendencies. In contrast, internet use dependence and addiction could directly predict depressive tendencies, and through the chain mediating effect of physical activity and social adaptability positively predict it.ConclusionTherefore, normal or moderate internet use has potential protective benefits on the physical and mental health of college students and can promote the positive development of physical activity and social adaptability to a certain extent, and prevent or reduce depressive tendencies, otherwise, it is not conducive to the healthy development of related behaviors and psychology.

Research on the Impact of Parenting Styles on Internet Addiction in Primary School Students

Abstract: With the rapid development of mobile phones and smartwatches, many primary school students have become increasingly dependent on the internet, to the extent that it affects their normal lives. Parental upbringing significantly influences children's behavior, as a warm family environment can reduce internet dependency, while an overly strict and highly controlling one can increase the amount of time primary school students spend on the internet. This study investigated the impact of parenting styles on Internet addiction in adolescents. The sample comprised 71 elementary school students, including 34 females and 37 males. A personal information form, "The Revised Chinese Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS-R)," and "The 21-item Chinese version of the s-EMBU" were used in the data gathering process. Regression analysis, simple correlation, F-test, and t-test methods were applied in data analysis. According to the findings, internet addiction is favorably connected with perceived poor parenting styles and negatively correlated with perceived positive parenting styles. Furthermore, there are gender differences in the prevalence of internet addiction among teenagers, with male teens being more likely than female teens to experience problematic online addiction.

The role of physical activity in mitigating stress-induced internet addiction among Chinese college students

BackgroundThis study addresses the nexus of stress, physical exercise, and internet addiction in college students, aiming to unravel their complex interactions. With prior research hinting at correlations, this study seeks deeper insights into the optimal exercise duration and the mediating role of physical activity in the stress-internet addiction relationship. MethodsWe examined 2892 Chinese college students, assessing psychosocial traits via established scales: the Chinese Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS-R), International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), and DASS-21 for stress. We adopted a questionnaire survey method to collect data, and through convenience sampling, participants were selected. Analysis involved Structural Equation Model (SEM) and restricted cubic splines (RCS). ResultsAmong participants, 22.0 % self-reported internet addiction symptoms. Notably, a non-linear correlation between moderate (MPA) and vigorous physical activity (VPA) and internet addiction was evident (P < 0.001), while light physical activity (LPA) showed no significant association (P = 0.182). MPA initially reduced internet addiction as activity hours increased, but its efficacy lessened after 0.8 h/day. Conversely, VPA's impact fluctuated, declining from 0 to 0.18 h/day, then stabilizing. SEM analysis highlighted VPA and MPA's partial mediation in the stress-internet addiction relationship. Specifically, the path coefficient from stress to MPA was −0.037 (P < 0.05), and the path coefficient from MPA to internet addiction was −0.056 (P < 0.01). Additionally, the path coefficient from stress to VPA was −0.067 (P < 0.001), and the path coefficient from VPA to internet addiction was −0.102 (P < 0.001). ConclusionThis study unveils the intricate interplay between physical activity, stress, and internet addiction among college students. With 22.0 % reporting addiction symptoms, urgent interventions tailored to promoting healthy physical activity levels are imperative to mitigate internet addiction risks. LimitationsThe cross-sectional nature of our design precludes the establishment of causal relationships between psychological stress and internet addiction.

Incidence and correlates of suicide attempts in adolescents with major depressive versus bipolar disorders: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundMajor depressive disorders (MDD) and bipolar disorders (BD) are the most common psychiatric diagnoses of suicide attempts (SA) in adolescents. However, little is known regarding the differences in incidence and clinical-related features of SA between these two disorders. The study aims to examine the SA incidence and related factors in adolescents with MDD versus BD. MethodA retrospective survey was conducted in outpatients. SA incidence, demographic characteristics and substance use history were collected. Symptom Checklist-90 was used to measure the severity of symptoms. The Revised Chinese internet addiction scale and Barratt Impulsiveness Scale-11 were utilized to assess the presence of internet addiction and impulsiveness. The Childhood Trauma Questionnaire was used to measure childhood maltreatment subtypes. Results295 MDD and 205 BD adolescents were recruited. The incidence of SA for MDD and BD were 52.5 % and 56.4 %, respectively. BD adolescents who attempted suicide showed worse symptoms, higher rates of nicotine and alcohol use, higher motor and non-planning impulsivity, and a more childhood physical abuse proportion than MDD adolescents with SA. Physical abuse in childhood was found to be associated with SA in both disorders (OR = 1.998 for MDD; OR = 2.275 for BD), while higher anxiety (OR = 1.705), and alcohol use (OR = 2.094) were only associated with SA in MDD. LimitationsRetrospective, cross-sectional design cannot draw causality, and biases in self-report measurements cannot be ignored. ConclusionsThe findings revealed some difference between BD and MDD for adolescents with SA, and it emphasize significance of prompt identification and exact distinction between BD and MDD in adolescents.

The association between childhood maltreatment and internet addiction among Chinese junior middle school students: prospective cohort study.

Childhood maltreatment is associated with internet addiction, but most evidence is from retrospective studies. We aimed to investigate the relationship between childhood maltreatment and internet addiction through a prospective cohort design. In a prospective cohort study, self-reported data on childhood maltreatment (Childhood Trauma Questionnaire - Short Form) at baseline, and internet addiction (Revised Chinese Internet Addiction Scale) at baseline and 6-month follow-up, were collected online from 756 Chinese junior middle school students aged 11-15 years and residing in Changsha, Hunan Province. Demographic data and covariates such as depression, anxiety, stress (Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale 21) and insomnia (Athens Insomnia Scale) were also surveyed at baseline. Logistic regression analysis measured the association between childhood maltreatment and internet addiction, and gender-related differences. Childhood maltreatment was prevalent in Chinese junior middle school students (37.83%), and the incidence rate of internet addiction was 9.26% at the 6-month follow-up. Emotional abuse was a significant risk factor for internet addiction (adjusted odds ratio 2.618, 95% CI 1.194-5.738; P = 0.016) in both males and females. This study suggests a high prevalence of childhood maltreatment in Chinese junior middle school students, and that emotional abuse plays a significant role in internet addiction. More attention should be paid to parenting style and adolescents' mental health.

Problematic internet use and suicide ideation among Chinese adolescents: The indirect effects of insomnia, nightmares, and social jetlag

BackgroundProblematic Internet use (PIU) is related to suicide ideation (SI) in adolescents, but little is known about the potential mechanisms between them. This study aimed to examine the mediation roles of insomnia, nightmares, and social jetlag in the association of PIU with SI in adolescents. MethodsA total of 39,731 adolescents (mean age = 13.49 ± 0.76 years, 54.4 % males) from Shenzhen, China, participated in a cross-sectional survey. SI was assessed using the ninth item of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9. PIU was measured by the Revised Chinese Internet Addiction Scale. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess insomnia symptoms, nightmare frequency, social jetlag, sleep duration, psychological distress, and social-demographical characteristics. Logistic regression and path analyses were performed to examine the associations between PIU, insomnia symptoms, nightmares, social jetlag, and SI. ResultsThe prevalence of PIU and SI were 14.9 % and 18.6 %, respectively. PIU, insomnia symptoms, frequent nightmares, and social jetlag were significantly associated with SI. Path analyses showed that the indirect effects of PIU on SI through insomnia symptoms, frequent nightmares, and social jetlag were significant. Conversely, social jetlag significantly mediated the pathway from SI to PIU. The mediation effect sizes of these sleep and circadian problems were slightly larger in females than in males. LimitationsCross-sectional design limited the capacity to infer causal relationships. ConclusionsThe associations between PIU and SI were mediated by sleep and circadian problems. These findings underscore the importance of assessing and intervening in sleep and circadian problems among adolescents with PIU or SI.

Internet addiction and suicidal ideation among Chinese college students: the mediating role of psychotic-like experiences.

Individuals with Internet addiction (IA) are at significant risk of suicide-related behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the relationships among IA, psychotic-like experiences (PLEs), and suicidal ideation (SI) among college students. A total of 5,366 college students (34.4% male, mean age 20.02 years) were assessed using the self-compiled sociodemographic questionnaires, Revised Chinese Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS-R), 15-item Positive subscale of the Community Assessment of Psychic Experiences (CAPE-P15), Self-rating Idea of Suicide Scale (SIOSS), and 2-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2). The prevalence of IA and SI were 9.3 and 12.1% among Chinese college students, respectively. There were direct effects of IA and PLEs on SI. The total effect of IA on SI was 0.18 (p < 0.001). PLEs mediated the relationship between IA and SI (Indirect effect = 0.07). IA had both direct and indirect effects on SI. These findings enable us to elucidate the mechanism of how IA influences individual SI, which can provide vital information for developing and implementing targeted interventions and strategies to alleviate SI among Chinese college students.

Identifying clinical risk factors correlated with addictive features of non-suicidal self-injury among a consecutive psychiatric outpatient sample of adolescents and young adults.

Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is an issue primarily of concern in adolescents and young adults. Recent literature suggests that persistent, repetitive, and uncontrollable NSSI can be conceptualized as a behavioral addiction. The study aimed to examine the prevalence of NSSI with addictive features and the association of this prevalence with demographic and clinical variables using a cross-sectional and case-control design. A total of 548 outpatients (12 to 22years old) meeting the criteria for NSSI disorder of DSM-5 were enrolled and completed clinicalinterviews by 4 psychiatrists. NSSI with addictive features were determined by using a single-factor structure of addictive features items in the Ottawa self-injury inventory (OSI). Current suicidality, psychiatric diagnosis, the OSI, the revised Chinese Internet Addiction Scale, the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire, and the 20-item Toronto Alexithymia Scale were collected. Binary logistic regression analyses were used to explore associations between risk factors and NSSI with addictive features. This study was conducted from April 2021 to May 2022. The mean age of participants was 15.93 (SD = 2.56) years with 418 females (76.3%), and the prevalence of addictive NSSI was 57.5% (n = 315). Subjects with addictive NSSI had a higher lifetime prevalence of nicotine and alcohol use, a higher prevalence of current internet addiction, suicidality, and alexithymia, and were more likely to have physical abuse/neglect, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse than NSSI subjects without addictive features. Among participants with NSSI, the strongest predictors of addictive features of NSSI were female (OR = 2.405, 95% CI 1.512-3.824, p < 0.0001), alcohol use (OR = 2.179, 95% CI 1.378-3.446, p = 0.001), current suicidality (OR = 3.790, 95% CI 2.351-6.109, p < 0.0001), and psysical abuse in childhood (OR = 2.470, 95% CI 1.653-3.690, p < 0.0001). Nearly 3 out of 5 patients (12-22years old) with NSSI met the criteria of NSSI with addictive features in this psychiatric outpatients sample. Our study demonstrated the importance of the necessity to regularly assess suicide risk, and alcohol use, as well as focus more on females and subjects who had physical abuse in childhood to prevent addictive NSSI.

Physical activity reduces internet addiction among "post-00" college students: The mediating role of coping styles.

To explore the role of coping styles (CS) in mediating the relationship between physical activity (PA) and internet addiction (IA), and to provide a theoretical basis for the prevention and treatment of IA among Chinese "post-00" college students. A total of 410 university students from five universities in Anhui Province were surveyed using the Chinese Internet addiction scale, the Coping Styles Scale for Chinese University Students, and the International Physical Activity Scale Short Form. (1) Boys are better than girls in PA. However, there was no significant difference between male and female students on CS and IA. (2) PA was positively correlated with CS (r = 0.278, p < 0.01), PA was negatively correlated with IA (r = -0.236, p < 0.01), CS was negatively correlated with IA (r = -0.560, p < 0.01). (3) PA was negatively predicted IA (B = -0.198, p < 0.01), PA was positively predicted CS (B = 0.986, p < 0.01), CS was negatively predicted IA (B = -0.065, p < 0.01). (4) CS plays a partially mediating role between PA and IA, with a mediating effect proportion of 48.33%. PA can improve IA not only directly for university students, but also indirectly by increasing CS. The intervention for IA of "post-00" college students can start by increasing PA and improving CS.

The relationship between social support and Internet addiction among Chinese college freshmen: A mediated moderation model

PurposeInternet addiction has become a worldwide mental health problem, and this problem is particularly prominent in China. Although current studies have shown that social support is closely related to Internet addiction, the mechanism of the relationship between the two is not clear at present. This study aimed to find out the influencing factors and the mechanism of Internet addiction among college freshmen, and to form scientific prevention and intervention plan on this basis.MethodThis study adopts the cluster sampling method to select 322 college freshmen in a typical postsecondary school in Shandong Province, using Chinese Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and Network-related Maladaptive Cognition Scale (NRMCS) to investigate the relationship between social support, network-related maladaptive cognition, gender, and the degree of Internet addiction.ResultsThe findings of this study are as follows: (1) After controlling age and family location, social support had a significant negative predictive effect on Internet addiction; (2) Gender acted as a moderator between the relationship of social support and Internet addiction; and (3) Additionally, the moderating effect of gender was completely mediated by network-related maladaptive cognition.ConclusionThere is a mediated moderating effect between social support and Internet addiction. That is, gender plays a moderating role between social support and Internet addiction, and this moderating effect is mediated by network maladaptive cognition.

The relationship between social support and Internet addiction among Chinese college freshmen: A mediated moderation model.

Internet addiction has become a worldwide mental health problem, and this problem is particularly prominent in China. Although current studies have shown that social support is closely related to Internet addiction, the mechanism of the relationship between the two is not clear at present. This study aimed to find out the influencing factors and the mechanism of Internet addiction among college freshmen, and to form scientific prevention and intervention plan on this basis. This study adopts the cluster sampling method to select 322 college freshmen in a typical postsecondary school in Shandong Province, using Chinese Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS), Social Support Rating Scale (SSRS), and Network-related Maladaptive Cognition Scale (NRMCS) to investigate the relationship between social support, network-related maladaptive cognition, gender, and the degree of Internet addiction. The findings of this study are as follows: (1) After controlling age and family location, social support had a significant negative predictive effect on Internet addiction; (2) Gender acted as a moderator between the relationship of social support and Internet addiction; and (3) Additionally, the moderating effect of gender was completely mediated by network-related maladaptive cognition. There is a mediated moderating effect between social support and Internet addiction. That is, gender plays a moderating role between social support and Internet addiction, and this moderating effect is mediated by network maladaptive cognition.

Effect of Social-Psychological Intervention on Self-Efficacy, Social Adaptability and Quality of Life of Internet-Addicted Teenagers.

Internet addiction leads to psychological and social damage to teenagers. Rehabilitation treatment of Internet-addicted adolescents has aroused widespread concern. This study aims to explore the effect of social-psychological intervention on self-efficacy, social adaptability, and quality of life of Internet-addicted teenagers. A total of 100 Internet-addicted teenagers in Guilin mental health center in China were selected and were randomly divided into control (n=50) and observation (n=50) groups. The teenagers in the control group received general withdrawal intervention, whereas those in the observation group received social-psychological intervention based on general withdrawal intervention. The intervention duration was 3 months. After intervention, the time management, interpersonal and health, Internet addiction tolerance, Internet withdrawal response, compulsive surfing of the Internet, and total score of Chinese Internet Addiction Scale of Internet-addicted teenagers in the two groups decreased significantly. Conversely, the total scores of boring and relaxation, stimulation and exposure, communication and information acquisition, negative emotion, and self-efficacy increased significantly, and the scores improved more significantly after the intervention in the observation group (P<0.05). Moreover, the scores of social adaptability, quality of life, and Internet avoidance of Internet-addicted teenagers in the two groups increased significantly after the intervention, whereas the scores of behavior monitoring and hazard perception decreased significantly, and the scores mentioned above improved more significantly in the observation group after the intervention (P<0.05). Social psychological intervention can effectively improve the self-efficacy of Internet-addicted teenagers, correct their bad surfing habits, and improve their social adaptability and quality of life, which is an intervention method worthy of promotion in the rehabilitation of Internet addiction.

Analysis of the mediating effects of self-efficacy and self-control between physical activity and Internet addiction among Chinese college students.

It explores the roles of self-efficacy and self-control in physical activity and Internet addiction. And it further provides a theoretical basis for the treatment and improvement of Internet addiction among college students. This study employs the whole group sampling method. The questionnaire was conducted on 855 college students from five universities in three provinces using the Physical Activity Level Scale, the General Self-Efficacy Scale, the Self-Control Scale, and the Chinese Internet Addiction Scale (IAS). The analyses yielded three main findings. (1) A large amount of physical activity was helpful in reducing the symptoms of Internet addiction and the problematic status of each dimension among college students. (2) A large or moderate amount of physical activity was helpful in enhancing college students’ self-efficacy. Besides, a large amount of physical activity was likely to enhance college students’ self-control. (3) The condition of physical activity not only directly has the negative correlation with college students’ Internet addiction but also influences college students’ Internet addiction through two indirect ways: the mediating role of self-control and the chain mediating role of self-efficacy and self-control. These conclusions provide a deeper understanding of the protective factors of Internet addiction among Chinese college students.

Childhood violence experience interacts with BDNF Val158Met polymorphism and modify internet addiction risk

IntroductionInternet-addiction (IA) is one of the most common non-chemical (or behavioral) addictions with genetic impact and substantial effects of psychological and personality characteristics, taking into account the childhood traumatic experience. Gene-environment interactions (GxE) may substantially impact on the risk of Internet-addiction (IA).ObjectivesAim: to test the associations between the functional polymorphism rs6265 (Val66Met) in brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, affecting BDNF function, and childhood traumatic experience and their GxE interactions with IA risk.MethodsIn total 456 participants were screened with Chinese Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS) to cut a cohort on two groups: IA (CIAS total score ≥ 65, n=100) and controls (CIAS total score less 64, n=356). The Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ) was used to assess childhood traumatic experience using its main domains: parents (P), family (F), abuse (A) and violence (V). BDNF Val158Met polymorphism was detected by RT-PCR.ResultsLogistic regression revealed associations of P scores with increased IA risk only after adjustment for sex and age (p=0.01, OR=1.166, 95%CI[1.038-1.309]) and V scores with decreased IA risk (p=0.000, OR=0.799, 95%CI [0,233;0,744] only before adjustment. No associations of F and A with IA risk were found. BDNF Val158Met per se was not associated with IA risk, but significant effect of interaction V score*BDNF rs6265 CC on IA risk in “protective” manner was revealed (р=0.039, OR=0.873, 95%CI[0.768-0.993]) in a model adjusted for sex and age.ConclusionsChildhood violence experience interacts with BDNF Val158Met polymorphism and CC (ValVal) genotype may be possibly protective factor decreasing the internet addiction riskDisclosureThis work was carried out with the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research: RFBR grant # 18-29-22079

Internet addiction: Gender-associated differences in psychological characteristics

IntroductionInternet addiction (IA) is reported to cause significant negative psychosocial consequences. The gender specificity of psychological characteristics that are potentially significant for the formation of IA remains understudied.ObjectivesTo identify gender-related differences in the psychological characteristics of people with IA.Methods100 subjects aged 16-34 years who scored 65 points or more on the Chinese Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS) were identified and divided into 2 groups by gender: group 1 (54 men) and group 2 (46 women). The individual psychological characteristics were assessed with: the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS); the Bass-Perry Aggression Questionnaire (BPAQ); the Emotional Regulation Questionnaire (ERQ); the Adverse Childhood Experiences International Questionnaire (ACE-IQ); a short version of the Five-factor Personality Questionnaire (TIPI-RU) and the Cloninger Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI-125).ResultsWomen were significantly more likely to experience fear of situations of interpersonal contact and action in public places (p=0.027). They experienced significantly more sexual violence in childhood (p=0.032) and were more likely to have personality traits such as “reward dependence” (p=0.002), “persistence” (p = 0.046), and “self-transcendence” (p=0.002). Men demonstrated physical aggression (p=0.009), suppressed emotions (p=0.019) significantly more often than women and characterized themselves as emotionally stable (p=0.048).ConclusionsThe gender differences identified in the cohort of individuals with IA can potentially be considered specific for this contingent, although such gender relationships can be observed in other forms of addiction and in the general population. The specificity of gender differences may reflect individual psychological markers of increased vulnerability to developing IA.DisclosureThe study was financially supported by Russian Foundation for Basic Research within the framework of scientific project No 18-29-22079.

Effect of a Strategic Physical Activity Program on Cognitive Flexibility among Children with Internet Addiction: A Pilot Study.

The purpose of this study was to explore whether a strategic physical activity program can improve cognitive flexibility among children with Internet addiction. Ten school-aged children were recruited by distributing flyers at an elementary school in Taiwan. The participants were screened using the Chinese Internet Addiction Scale. Their executive functions were assessed by a task-switching paradigm and their motor competence was evaluated by the Movement Assessment Battery for Children–Second Edition (MABC-2) before and after a 12-week strategic physical activity intervention (twice per week, 90 min per session). The posttest scores showed significant improvements in accuracy in the pure, mixed, and switch trials and in the manual dexterity and total score of the MABC-2 compared with the pretest scores. Despite the inherited limitations of a single group pretest-posttest design this study employed, the findings shed light on the possibility that a strategic physical activity intervention might be a feasible and effective behavioral approach to enhance cognitive function and motor competence in children with Internet addiction. Further studies including a control group, preferably with a randomized controlled trial design, will be needed to validate the findings.

Serial Mediation Roles of Alexithymia and Loneliness in the Association Between Family Function and Internet Addiction Among Chinese College Students.

A lot of previous research has highlighted the negative consequences of Internet addiction. However, relatively few is known about the underlying mechanism for Internet addiction among college students in relation to family function. The present study explored the relationship between family function and Internet addiction among college students, as well as the mediating effects of alexithymia and loneliness. A sample of 783 Chinese college students were administered a number of psychometric scales including the “General Function” subscale of the Chinese version of the Family Assessment Device, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, UCLA Loneliness Scale, and Revised Chinese Internet Addiction Scale. The results showed that family function was negatively associated with Internet addiction; the association was significantly mediated by alexithymia; the association was significantly mediated by loneliness; and alexithymia and loneliness sequentially mediated the association. The total mediating effect was 63.96%. The results of the present study are of great significance to the prevention and intervention of Internet addiction among college students.

Slow-Wave EEG Activity Correlates with Impaired Inhibitory Control in Internet Addiction Disorder.

Impaired inhibitory control is a core feature of internet addiction disorder (IAD). It is therefore of interest to determine the neurophysiological markers associated with it. The present study aimed to find such biomarkers with a resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG). We specifically used scores on the Chinese Internet Addiction Scale revised edition (CIAS-R) to divide 46 participants into two groups: the IAD group (>53, n = 23) and control group (<46, n = 23). Both behavioral aspects (Go/NoGo responses and impulsivity) and EEG were measured in the lab. The results suggest that the IAD group presented a decreased slow-wave (1–8 Hz) absolute power across the whole brain. The slow-wave activities in the frontal areas were also correlated with the commission error rate in the Go/NoGo task in the IAD group. These results imply that the frontal slow-wave EEG activity may serve as a neurophysiological marker of IAD, helping to understand the underlying neural mechanisms of inhibitory control deficits in IAD and point to possible interventions.

Associations Between Internet Addiction and Gender, Anxiety, Coping Styles and Acceptance in University Freshmen in South China.

Objective: Internet addiction (IA) has become a global public health issue. Although previous studies revealed several risk factors related to IA, most of them focused on the western societies. The present study assesses the relationships between gender and other factors with IA in university freshmen in the South China.Methods: A total of 3,380 first-year college students (1,995 males and 1,385 females) participated in an evaluation of their experiences surfing on the Internet. We investigated the severity of IA in the participants by considering their psychological characteristics, such as acceptance, anxiety levels, and coping styles. Then, we compared the results between males and females and between those in addiction group (Chinese Internet Addiction Scale, CIAS, scores≥64) and non-addiction group (CIAS scores ≤27). We also conducted a logistic regression analysis to detect the relationships between severity of IA and psychological characteristics and gender differences.Results: We observed that males showed significantly higher scores in CIAS than females. The addiction group exhibited significantly higher state anxiety and trait anxiety, and experienced less acceptance of self and others and acceptance by others, and adopted less positive coping style and preferred negative coping style than non-addiction group. The logistic regression analysis revealed that three factors (negative coping styles, acceptance of self and others, state anxiety levels) had a significant association with more severe IA.Conclusion: Gender differences affect the severity of IA in the first-year students in South China. Males with state anxiety and negative coping styles deserve attention because they are likely to be addicted to the Internet. Thus, health practitioners should perform efficient strategies while considering gender differences to precaution first-year college students with the risk factors for IA.

Insomnia in Chinese College Students With Internet Addiction: Prevalence and Associated Clinical Correlates.

Background: Internet addiction (IA) has gained more and more attention for its negative impact on the subjects' study and daily life. However, in a large sample, there is little research on the association between IA and insomnia in Chinese college students. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of insomnia and its related risk factors among Chinese college students with IA.Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to investigate 627 Chinese college students with IA. Each student completed a survey on demographic data, Internet addiction (Revised Chinese Internet Addiction Scale), depression (Self-Rating Depression Scale), insomnia (Athens Insomnia Scale), anxiety (Self-Rating Anxiety Scale), and suicidal behavior. Binary logistic regression analysis was employed to adjust for confounding factors.Results: The prevalence of insomnia among students with IA was 54.86%. Compared with IA students without insomnia, IA students with insomnia were more likely to be younger, smoking, drinking, have anxiety, depression, suicidal ideations, suicide plans, and suicide attempts (all p < 0.05). Moreover, drinking [OR, 1.664; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.139–2.431; p = 0.008], anxiety (OR, 2.321; 95% CI, 1.116–4.826; p = 0.024), and suicidal ideation (OR, 1.942; 95% CI:1.295–2.911; p = 0.001) were independently associated with insomnia in IA students.Conclusions: Insomnia is very common in Chinese IA students. Drinking, anxiety, and suicidal ideation are independently correlated with insomnia. This study provides valuable evidence for school counselors and clinical professionals to assess Internet addiction, insomnia, and suicide risk.