The lagged effects of parent–child relationship on internet addiction: parallel mediation of psychological need frustration and self-esteem
Abstract Background Adolescent Internet addiction has emerged as a major social and public health concern worldwide. Previous studies have indicated that parent–child relationship plays a crucial role in adolescent Internet addiction. However, most of these studies have adopted a cross-sectional des...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Xin Liu Fang Ran Yaoyao Zhang |
| author_facet | Xin Liu Fang Ran Yaoyao Zhang |
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| description | Abstract Background Adolescent Internet addiction has emerged as a major social and public health concern worldwide. Previous studies have indicated that parent–child relationship plays a crucial role in adolescent Internet addiction. However, most of these studies have adopted a cross-sectional design, making it difficult to reveal the lagged effects of the parent-child relationship on adolescent Internet addiction and its underlying developmental mechanisms. Methods This study conducted a three-wave survey over one year, employing cluster sampling between October 2023 and October 2024. The survey assessed parent-child relationship, Internet addiction, basic psychological need frustration, and self-esteem among 2,483 adolescents (M age = 13.82, SD = 1.53; 51.71% girls) from two middle schools in Shaanxi, China. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0. Additionally, the lagged effect of T1 parent-child relationship on T3 Internet addiction, as well as the parallel mediating roles of T2 basic psychological needs frustration and T2 self-esteem in this lagged effect, were examined using PROCESS macro Model 4. Results (1) The lagged effect of T1 parent-child relationship on T3 Internet addiction was significant (β = −0.20, SE = 0.03, p < 0.001). (2) T2 basic psychological need frustration (β = −0.06, SE = 0.01, 95% CI: −0.08, − 0.04) and T2 self-esteem (β = −0.02, SE = 0.01, 95% CI: −0.04, − 0.01) served as parallel mediators in the lagged effect of T1 parent-child relationship on T3 Internet addiction. Conclusions These findings provide empirical evidence for preventing and intervening in adolescent Internet addiction and hold significant implications for reducing its risk. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-37372215205d4b18b6b7fdabbfaf69fe |
| institution | OA Journals |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-37372215205d4b18b6b7fdabbfaf69fe2025-08-20T02:11:23ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-05-0125111110.1186/s12889-025-22862-6The lagged effects of parent–child relationship on internet addiction: parallel mediation of psychological need frustration and self-esteemXin Liu0Fang Ran1Yaoyao Zhang2Research Center of Mental Health Education, Southwest UniversityChongqing Vocational Institute of TourismResearch Center of Mental Health Education, Southwest UniversityAbstract Background Adolescent Internet addiction has emerged as a major social and public health concern worldwide. Previous studies have indicated that parent–child relationship plays a crucial role in adolescent Internet addiction. However, most of these studies have adopted a cross-sectional design, making it difficult to reveal the lagged effects of the parent-child relationship on adolescent Internet addiction and its underlying developmental mechanisms. Methods This study conducted a three-wave survey over one year, employing cluster sampling between October 2023 and October 2024. The survey assessed parent-child relationship, Internet addiction, basic psychological need frustration, and self-esteem among 2,483 adolescents (M age = 13.82, SD = 1.53; 51.71% girls) from two middle schools in Shaanxi, China. Descriptive statistics and correlation analyses were performed using SPSS 26.0. Additionally, the lagged effect of T1 parent-child relationship on T3 Internet addiction, as well as the parallel mediating roles of T2 basic psychological needs frustration and T2 self-esteem in this lagged effect, were examined using PROCESS macro Model 4. Results (1) The lagged effect of T1 parent-child relationship on T3 Internet addiction was significant (β = −0.20, SE = 0.03, p < 0.001). (2) T2 basic psychological need frustration (β = −0.06, SE = 0.01, 95% CI: −0.08, − 0.04) and T2 self-esteem (β = −0.02, SE = 0.01, 95% CI: −0.04, − 0.01) served as parallel mediators in the lagged effect of T1 parent-child relationship on T3 Internet addiction. Conclusions These findings provide empirical evidence for preventing and intervening in adolescent Internet addiction and hold significant implications for reducing its risk.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22862-6Internet addictionParent–child relationshipBasic psychological need frustrationSelf-esteemAdolescents |
| spellingShingle | Xin Liu Fang Ran Yaoyao Zhang The lagged effects of parent–child relationship on internet addiction: parallel mediation of psychological need frustration and self-esteem BMC Public Health Internet addiction Parent–child relationship Basic psychological need frustration Self-esteem Adolescents |
| title | The lagged effects of parent–child relationship on internet addiction: parallel mediation of psychological need frustration and self-esteem |
| title_full | The lagged effects of parent–child relationship on internet addiction: parallel mediation of psychological need frustration and self-esteem |
| title_fullStr | The lagged effects of parent–child relationship on internet addiction: parallel mediation of psychological need frustration and self-esteem |
| title_full_unstemmed | The lagged effects of parent–child relationship on internet addiction: parallel mediation of psychological need frustration and self-esteem |
| title_short | The lagged effects of parent–child relationship on internet addiction: parallel mediation of psychological need frustration and self-esteem |
| title_sort | lagged effects of parent child relationship on internet addiction parallel mediation of psychological need frustration and self esteem |
| topic | Internet addiction Parent–child relationship Basic psychological need frustration Self-esteem Adolescents |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-22862-6 |
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