Cross-cultural insights into internet addiction and mental health: a network analysis from China and Malawi
Abstract Background Internet addiction has emerged as a significant mental health issue among university students. The study aimed to compare the network structures of Internet addiction and mental health symptoms among university students in China and Malawi, which provide insights into culturally...
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2025-01-01
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21496-y |
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| author | Mengze Li Yidi Wang Bin Liu Xiaoli Ni Zhujing Ma Fengzhan Li Tifei Yuan Hongyi Chen Zhongying Wu Qiannan Jia Lei Song Yinchuan Jin Qun Yang |
| author_facet | Mengze Li Yidi Wang Bin Liu Xiaoli Ni Zhujing Ma Fengzhan Li Tifei Yuan Hongyi Chen Zhongying Wu Qiannan Jia Lei Song Yinchuan Jin Qun Yang |
| author_sort | Mengze Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Internet addiction has emerged as a significant mental health issue among university students. The study aimed to compare the network structures of Internet addiction and mental health symptoms among university students in China and Malawi, which provide insights into culturally sensitive prevention and intervention strategies. Methods Network analysis was used on two datasets: Malawi (n = 688) and China (n = 975) using the Internet Addiction Test and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. Network estimation, centrality, bridge estimation and network comparison, were conducted using R software. Results The prevalence of internet addiction and mental health was significantly higher in China than Malawi. In Malawi, the strongest edges were “school work” - “job performance” and “worthless” - “unable to play a useful part”. The central nodes were “daily work suffering”, “fantasize” and “lost interest”. In China, the strongest edges were “neglect household” - “neglect partner” and “difficult to enjoy” - “daily work suffering”. The central nodes were “trouble thinking”, “unhappiness”, and “unable to play a useful part”. Bridge symptoms varied between the countries, with functional impairments (school work, daily work suffering and difficult to make decision) being more prominent in Malawi and emotional disturbances (daily work suffering, act annoyed and difficult to enjoy) in China. Conclusions The study highlights significant differences in the network structures of internet addiction and mental health between China and Malawi, which underscore the importance of culturally sensitive mental health interventions. In Malawi, addressing functional impairments related to academic and work performance is crucial, while in China, interventions should focus on emotional and relational aspects. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-1cbb54c482914889ad7c00832e8a5f0a |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj-art-1cbb54c482914889ad7c00832e8a5f0a2025-01-26T12:55:37ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582025-01-0125111010.1186/s12889-025-21496-yCross-cultural insights into internet addiction and mental health: a network analysis from China and MalawiMengze Li0Yidi Wang1Bin Liu2Xiaoli Ni3Zhujing Ma4Fengzhan Li5Tifei Yuan6Hongyi Chen7Zhongying Wu8Qiannan Jia9Lei Song10Yinchuan Jin11Qun Yang12Department of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)School of Humanities and Social Science, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)School of Humanities and Social Science, Xi’an Jiaotong UniversityDepartment of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)Department of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of MedicineDepartment of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)Department of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)Department of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)Department of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)Department of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)Department of Military Medical Psychology, Air Force Medical University, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)Abstract Background Internet addiction has emerged as a significant mental health issue among university students. The study aimed to compare the network structures of Internet addiction and mental health symptoms among university students in China and Malawi, which provide insights into culturally sensitive prevention and intervention strategies. Methods Network analysis was used on two datasets: Malawi (n = 688) and China (n = 975) using the Internet Addiction Test and the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. Network estimation, centrality, bridge estimation and network comparison, were conducted using R software. Results The prevalence of internet addiction and mental health was significantly higher in China than Malawi. In Malawi, the strongest edges were “school work” - “job performance” and “worthless” - “unable to play a useful part”. The central nodes were “daily work suffering”, “fantasize” and “lost interest”. In China, the strongest edges were “neglect household” - “neglect partner” and “difficult to enjoy” - “daily work suffering”. The central nodes were “trouble thinking”, “unhappiness”, and “unable to play a useful part”. Bridge symptoms varied between the countries, with functional impairments (school work, daily work suffering and difficult to make decision) being more prominent in Malawi and emotional disturbances (daily work suffering, act annoyed and difficult to enjoy) in China. Conclusions The study highlights significant differences in the network structures of internet addiction and mental health between China and Malawi, which underscore the importance of culturally sensitive mental health interventions. In Malawi, addressing functional impairments related to academic and work performance is crucial, while in China, interventions should focus on emotional and relational aspects.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21496-yInternet addictionMental healthCultural differenceNetwork analysis |
| spellingShingle | Mengze Li Yidi Wang Bin Liu Xiaoli Ni Zhujing Ma Fengzhan Li Tifei Yuan Hongyi Chen Zhongying Wu Qiannan Jia Lei Song Yinchuan Jin Qun Yang Cross-cultural insights into internet addiction and mental health: a network analysis from China and Malawi BMC Public Health Internet addiction Mental health Cultural difference Network analysis |
| title | Cross-cultural insights into internet addiction and mental health: a network analysis from China and Malawi |
| title_full | Cross-cultural insights into internet addiction and mental health: a network analysis from China and Malawi |
| title_fullStr | Cross-cultural insights into internet addiction and mental health: a network analysis from China and Malawi |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cross-cultural insights into internet addiction and mental health: a network analysis from China and Malawi |
| title_short | Cross-cultural insights into internet addiction and mental health: a network analysis from China and Malawi |
| title_sort | cross cultural insights into internet addiction and mental health a network analysis from china and malawi |
| topic | Internet addiction Mental health Cultural difference Network analysis |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-025-21496-y |
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