Risk perception of COVID-19, depressive symptoms and Internet addiction among undergraduates: a longitudinal study
BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious negative psychological effects worldwide, relatively little research has been performed on the potential enduring effects of COVID-19 on people’s emotional health and Internet addiction. This study was to examine the longitudinal associations betwee...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1487472/full |
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| author | Hongpo Zhang Hongpo Zhang Dandan Zhang Wanghua Ji Shun Peng |
| author_facet | Hongpo Zhang Hongpo Zhang Dandan Zhang Wanghua Ji Shun Peng |
| author_sort | Hongpo Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious negative psychological effects worldwide, relatively little research has been performed on the potential enduring effects of COVID-19 on people’s emotional health and Internet addiction. This study was to examine the longitudinal associations between risk perception of COVID-19, depressive symptoms, and Internet addiction among Chinese undergraduates.MethodsWe conducted a two-wave longitudinal survey by convenience sampling, a total of 1,153 Chinese undergraduate students completed questionnaires measuring their COVID-19 risk perception and post-traumatic growth (PTG) in December 2022 (T1) via an online survey. Subsequently, 1,008 of the T1 participants (87.42%) completed the depressive symptoms scale and Internet addiction scale 6 months later, in June 2023 (T2).Results(1) Risk perception of COVID-19 was significantly and positively predicted depressive symptoms and Internet addiction 6 months later; (2) Depressive symptoms played a mediating role between risk perceptions and Internet addiction; (3) PTG moderated the first-stage link between risk perception and Internet addiction, and this relationship was more robust for low PTG than for high PTG.ConclusionThese findings advance our understanding of the relationship and mechanisms between risk perception of COVID-19 and Internet addiction, and further support developing interventions to strengthen PTG for mitigating negative outcomes during major crises. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1b15961866e24332afc1d94c5018e913 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2296-2565 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-1b15961866e24332afc1d94c5018e9132025-01-23T05:10:20ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652025-01-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.14874721487472Risk perception of COVID-19, depressive symptoms and Internet addiction among undergraduates: a longitudinal studyHongpo Zhang0Hongpo Zhang1Dandan Zhang2Wanghua Ji3Shun Peng4School of Management, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaMental Health Education and Counseling Center, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaSchool of Management, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaSchool of Management, Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou, ChinaSchool of Education, Huanggang Normal University, Huanggang, ChinaBackgroundThe COVID-19 pandemic has caused serious negative psychological effects worldwide, relatively little research has been performed on the potential enduring effects of COVID-19 on people’s emotional health and Internet addiction. This study was to examine the longitudinal associations between risk perception of COVID-19, depressive symptoms, and Internet addiction among Chinese undergraduates.MethodsWe conducted a two-wave longitudinal survey by convenience sampling, a total of 1,153 Chinese undergraduate students completed questionnaires measuring their COVID-19 risk perception and post-traumatic growth (PTG) in December 2022 (T1) via an online survey. Subsequently, 1,008 of the T1 participants (87.42%) completed the depressive symptoms scale and Internet addiction scale 6 months later, in June 2023 (T2).Results(1) Risk perception of COVID-19 was significantly and positively predicted depressive symptoms and Internet addiction 6 months later; (2) Depressive symptoms played a mediating role between risk perceptions and Internet addiction; (3) PTG moderated the first-stage link between risk perception and Internet addiction, and this relationship was more robust for low PTG than for high PTG.ConclusionThese findings advance our understanding of the relationship and mechanisms between risk perception of COVID-19 and Internet addiction, and further support developing interventions to strengthen PTG for mitigating negative outcomes during major crises.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1487472/fullrisk perceptionCOVID-19depressive symptomsInternet addictionpost-traumatic growth |
| spellingShingle | Hongpo Zhang Hongpo Zhang Dandan Zhang Wanghua Ji Shun Peng Risk perception of COVID-19, depressive symptoms and Internet addiction among undergraduates: a longitudinal study Frontiers in Public Health risk perception COVID-19 depressive symptoms Internet addiction post-traumatic growth |
| title | Risk perception of COVID-19, depressive symptoms and Internet addiction among undergraduates: a longitudinal study |
| title_full | Risk perception of COVID-19, depressive symptoms and Internet addiction among undergraduates: a longitudinal study |
| title_fullStr | Risk perception of COVID-19, depressive symptoms and Internet addiction among undergraduates: a longitudinal study |
| title_full_unstemmed | Risk perception of COVID-19, depressive symptoms and Internet addiction among undergraduates: a longitudinal study |
| title_short | Risk perception of COVID-19, depressive symptoms and Internet addiction among undergraduates: a longitudinal study |
| title_sort | risk perception of covid 19 depressive symptoms and internet addiction among undergraduates a longitudinal study |
| topic | risk perception COVID-19 depressive symptoms Internet addiction post-traumatic growth |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1487472/full |
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