Reciprocal Relationships between Internet Addiction and Wellbeing Among Taiwanese Youth

It is essential to understand the negative impact of excessive internet use on young people's mental health and well-being today. In addition, addictive behaviors in adolescence can have long-lasting negative impacts on physical, financial, and social well-being. Internet addiction, often a coping mechanism, may improve social connections for lonely individuals but may also exacerbate existing problems. The research findings provide compelling insights into the association between internet addiction and well-being among youths, thereby emphasizing the pressing need for a comprehensive approach to address this issue.

The authors used a longitudinal panel survey conducted from 2020 to 2022 by NTU Children and Family Research Center, Sponsored by CTBC Charity Foundation. The study utilized a cross-lagged path model design based on a sample of fifth-graders across 39 schools (N = 899) in Keeling City to explore the bidirectional relationships between internet addiction and well-being among Taiwanese early adolescents. The measurements include a modified short version of the Internet Addiction Scale (CIAS) and Diener et al.'s (2010) well-being scale with good validity and reliability. Finally, a multi-group structural equation modeling analysis was conducted to investigate gender differences in the three-wave cross-lagged model.

The results of statistical analysis have revealed the model fit indices with a good fit to the data (χ^2 = 66.13, p < .001; CFI = 0.92; NFI = 0.92; IFI = 0.93; RMSEA = 0.09), providing robust evidence for the nature of these relationships. The findings demonstrate that excessive internet use at Time 1 adversely impacts well-being at Time 2 (β = -0.15, p < .001), while excessive internet use at Time 2 negatively affects well-being at Time 3 (β = -0.13, p < .001). These findings emphasize the harmful consequences of internet addiction on adolescents' well-being. Moreover, the study also found that lower initial well-being predicted an increase in internet addiction, with well-being at Time 1 predicting internet addiction at Time 2 (β = -0.05, p < .05) and well-being at Time 2 predicting internet addiction at Time 3 (β = -0.08, p < .01). The results suggested that there are cross-lagged associations between internet addiction and well-being. The three-wave panel data consistently showed that the harmful consequences of internet addiction on adolescents' well-being and also lower initial well-being predicted an increase in internet addiction.

This study demonstrates a reciprocal relationship between internet addiction and well-being among young teenagers, offering essential guidance for those in social work, education, and policy-making. It is the critical importance of targeted interventions aimed at both preventing internet addiction and promoting the overall well-being of adolescents. These interventions should not only focus on changing behaviors to reduce internet addiction but also include positive psychology interventions to enhance psychosocial health. This study suggested the necessity of future research to understand the mechanisms that underlie these connections, including gender differences and the role of social support systems. This knowledge is vital for shaping spaces that promote both healthy growth and digital savvy in today's tech-centric world.