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03-01-2024 | Addiction

Will Internet Availability Fuel Problematic Internet Use? A Cross-Temporal Meta-analysis of Patterns in China from 2003 to 2020

Authors: Xiaoli Han, Shaozhen Zhang, Shuang Miao, Zewen Wu, Marc N. Potenza, Wenliang Su

Published in: Current Addiction Reports | Issue 1/2024

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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Problematic internet use (PIU) has varied across countries and eras, but how it may relate to internet availability has not been well examined. This cross-temporal meta-analysis aimed to explore the association between PIU severity changes and internet availability development in China over the past few decades and how it may relate to gender and age.

Recent Findings

The results showed that China’s overall PIU level has increased over time, and these changes were associated with the increase in factors related to internet availability. Gender-related differences in PIU decreased over time, and it appeared related to more gender equality in internet penetration and use. In addition, college students with relatively higher internet availability were found to have higher overall PIU scores than secondary-school students, and that their PIU scores increased over time, while secondary-school students’ scores remained largely consistent.

Summary

PIU severity increased in China during 2003–2020, and it appears to be associated with the increase in internet availability, which supports the internet availability hypothesis on PIU.
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Metadata
Title
Will Internet Availability Fuel Problematic Internet Use? A Cross-Temporal Meta-analysis of Patterns in China from 2003 to 2020
Authors
Xiaoli Han
Shaozhen Zhang
Shuang Miao
Zewen Wu
Marc N. Potenza
Wenliang Su
Publication date
03-01-2024
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
Current Addiction Reports / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 2196-2952
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s40429-023-00537-9